Clonmel

The first return to Westminster for Clonmel after the Union was delayed owing to a transaction between John Bagwell I and the proprietors Lord Mountcashell and Stephen Moore, whom Bagwell bought out. Moore and John Dennis, the sitting Members, did not ballot for the seat and Bagwell returned his son William. The latter held the seat until 1819 when, on obtaining the county seat, he substituted his brother-in-law, having since 1816 been patron in succession to his father. Although Clonmel was not in theory a close borough, Bagwell senior regarded it as his ‘sole and exclusive property’ and resented interference with his virtual monopoly of its patronage from either government or his rival for the county representation, Lord Donoughmore.2PRO 30/9/12/3, Bagwell to Abbot, 6 June 1801; Wickham mss 1/45/22, Wickham to Addington, 7 June 1803; PRO 30/8/188, f. 333. He did not meet with any effective opposition there, though, to his great disgust, the collector of Clonmel hindered his election for the county.3Wellington mss, Bagwell to Wellesley, 3 May, Westmorland to same, 4 May 1807.