Huntingdon was dominated by the earls of Sandwich, who lived at Hinchingbrooke within the town, nominating both Members, usually without opposition. The only contest that occurred between 1715 and 1754 was in 1741, when the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who on coming of age in 1739 had joined the Opposition, put up two anti-government candidates, Wills Hill and Edward Montagu, against two government candidates, Roger Handasyde and Albert Nesbitt. Lord Sandwich is described as exerting himself in the election
with great vigour and success. He got his two men elected and threw out General Handasyde who has had a long and established interest there. He gained his point by mere good management ... To keep some of his men, who had promised him their votes but were not very steady, out of the way of temptation — for no less than £300 a man was at last offered — he sent them out upon various pretences a-travelling about England from one fine house to another, so well guarded that none of the opposite party could possibly come at them ... I never saw anyone so engaging and affable towards the common people.
HMC 12th Rep. IX, 204.
Hill, however, chose to sit for Warwick, where he had also been returned, and at the ensuing by-election Sandwich appears to have been unable to prevent Nesbitt from being returned unopposed.
In 1747 Sandwich, though now a member of the Government, was unable or reluctant to turn out his kinsman, Edward Montagu, a persistent opponent of all Administrations, and unwilling to bring in Nesbitt, on the ground that this would injure his interest.
in the freemen and inhabitant householders paying scot and lot
Number of voters: about 160