ROUSE BOUGHTON, William Edward (1788-1856), of Rouse Lench, Worcs. and Downton, Salop.

Rouse Boughton’s father had been Member for Evesham 1780-90 and he was invited to stand there in 1818. He succeeded in a contest, only to be ousted on petition by Sir Charles Cockerell. His politics were in dispute. Opposition claimed him as a gain for them, but the Treasury noted that he ‘made a speech from the hustings favourable to government’. In his address of thanks he described himself as ‘unbiased by any political party or connexion’.Add. 40279, f. 62; The Late Elections (1818), 116. It was only when he regained his seat in 1820 that his opposition leanings became apparent. He died 22 May 1856.