Hedon

Hedon, a venal borough, was controlled for many years by William Pulteney, who had inherited the interest there of Henry Guy, M.P. Hedon 1679-95 and 1702-5. His nominees were unopposed till 1741, when two Walpole Whigs, Luke Robinson and Francis Chute, captured both seats, which Pulteney recovered on an undefended petition for bribery after Walpole’s fall. Robinson stood again at a by-election in 1744, when Pulteney, now Earl of Bath, put up Admiral, later Lord, Anson, who was returned, a petition by Robinson alleging bribery being withdrawn. At a second by-election in 1746 Robinson lost by one vote to Bath’s brother-in-law, Samuel Gumley. This time his petition, based on the partiality of the returning officer, was successful, as ministers ‘wanted to show the King that Lord Bath had not the interest he boasted’ in the House of Commons.1CJ, xxiv. 110-11, 700, 704; xxv. 210; HMC Polwarth, v. 202. At the general election of 1747 Bath resigned his interest at Hedon to Anson, who put up his shipmate, Captain Charles Saunders. On this Robinson’s friends at Hedon offered not to oppose Saunders provided that Anson would engage that none of his friends should oppose Robinson. As Anson would not agree to this, the Robinson party put up John Savile, later Lord Pollington, a government supporter, who was returned with Robinson, defeating Saunders and Gumley.2Joseph Hill to Rockingham, undated, Rockingham mss. The 2nd Lord Egmont’s electoral survey, c.1749-50, describes Hedon as ‘to be bought’.