Right of election
in the corporation
Bath
Background Information
Number of voters: 30
Constituency business
| Date | Candidate | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Feb. 1715 | SAMUEL TROTMAN | |
| JOHN CODRINGTON | ||
| Edward Minshall | ||
| John Bromhall | ||
| 22 Feb. 1720 | ROBERT GAY vice Trotman, deceased | 22 |
| Henry Poole | 3 |
|
| John Pococke | 2 |
|
| 24 Mar. 1722 | GEORGE WADE | 23 |
| JOHN CODRINGTON | 20 |
|
| Robert Gay | 11 |
|
| 22 Aug. 1727 | GEORGE WADE | 26 |
| ROBERT GAY | 17 |
|
| John Codrington | 10 |
|
| Richard Skrine | 1 |
|
| Henry Bridges | 1 |
|
| 1 Feb. 1733 | WADE re-elected after appointment to office | |
| 30 Apr. 1734 | GEORGE WADE | 30 |
| JOHN CODRINGTON | 16 |
|
| Philip Bennet | 14 |
|
| 15 May 1741 | GEORGE WADE | 27 |
| PHILIP BENNET | 16 |
|
| John Codrington | 15 |
|
| 1 July 1747 | GEORGE WADE | 29 |
| ROBERT HENLEY | 17 |
|
| Joseph Langton | 13 |
|
| 25 Mar. 1748 | SIR JOHN LIGONIER vice Wade, deceased | 15 |
| Joseph Langton | 14 |
|
| 21 Nov. 1751 | HENLEY re-elected after appointment to office |
Main Article
<p>The franchise at Bath was in the corporation, a close body, recruited by co-option. In spite of this narrow franchise, against which some of the citizens petitioned unsuccessfully to the House of Commons in 1728,<a class='fnlink' id='t1' href='#fn1'>1<span><em>CJ</em>, xxi. 49.</span></a> Bath was an outstandingly independent and respectable borough. For most of the period it was run by its famous postmaster, Ralph Allen, whose father-in-law, George Wade, held one seat from 1722 till his death in 1748. After Wade’s death Allen persuaded the corporation to elect another distinguished soldier, Sir John Ligonier, <em>honoris causa</em>, though he had no connexion with the city. The other Members were either neighbouring country gentlemen or had strong local connexions.</p>
Volume
Notes
- 1. CJ, xxi. 49.