Maidstone

Maidstone, the 2nd Lord Egmont wrote in his electoral survey, c.1749-50, ‘is a perplexed interest’. The chief interests in 1715 were those of the Finches, earls of Aylesford, Tories, and the Marshams, later Lords Romney, Whigs; but for nearly 30 years after the 1st Lord’s death in 1724, his successor took no part in local politics. There was a strong independent party, closely connected with the Dissenters, who formed nearly half of Maidstone’s population, but were not united, their divisions reflecting a long-standing feud between the oligarchic element of the corporation, the jurats, and the popular element, which controlled the common council. The Aylesford interest tended to ally itself with the oligarchic element in the corporation, while the Administration supported the popular element. All elections were contested.

In 1715 Maidstone returned two Whigs, Sir Robert Marsham and one of the neighbouring gentry. At each of the next three general elections the Aylesford interest secured one Member, the other being a government supporter, in 1722 a county gentleman as before, and in 1727 and 1734 townsmen. In 1741 the Aylesford interest, in alliance with the corporation, succeeded in returning both Members, but in 1742 protracted legal proceedings led to the dissolution of the corporation, and to the grant of a new charter, appointing the head of the popular party, William Horsemonden Turner, recorder, with a new corporation, consisting chiefly of his supporters.W. R. James, Charters etc. relating to Maidstone (1825), pp. xvi seq., 170 seq. As a result Turner and another government supporter were returned in 1747. On Turner’s death in 1753 he was replaced by a Tory standing with the support of Lord Romney.