Grantham

The chief interests at Grantham were in two neighbouring Whig families, the dukes of Rutland, seated at Belvoir, seven miles from the borough, and the Brownlows of Belton and Humby, also not far away. The 3rd Earl of Cardigan, whose estate at Hougham was six miles from Grantham, supported the local Tories till his death in 1732. Most of the corporation were Tories.1J. Garner to John Heathcote, 18 Mar. 1722, I Ancaster mss 13/B/2, Lincs. Archives Office.

At a three-cornered contest in 1715 Edward Rolt, a Tory, standing on his own interest, was returned with John Heathcote, a Whig, whose father, Sir Gilbert Heathcote, owned estates in Lincolnshire. In 1722 Lord Cardigan put up a second Tory, Francis Fisher,2Ibid. 24 Mar. 1722. who headed the poll, Rolt losing his seat to John Brownlow, Lord Tyrconnel, a Whig. In 1727 Fisher retired in favour of Sir Michael Newton,3Monson mss 28B/10/82, Lincs. Archives Office. an opposition Whig, who was returned unopposed with Tyrconnel, both being re-elected without a contest in 1734. Tyrconnel was succeeded in 1741 by the Duke of Rutland’s son, Lord Granby, and Newton in 1743 by Tyrconnel’s nephew and heir, Sir John Cust, whose families thenceforth controlled both seats.