Commons 1754-1790

By 1754 Caernarvon Boroughs was firmly under the control of the Wynn family of Glynllivon. They held the constableship of Caernarvon castle; the mayoralty of Nevin was hereditary in the family; that of Pwllheli in their allies the Vaughans of Corsygedol; but Criccieth was controlled by the Owens of Brogyntyn. The Wynns were unchallenged until a family dispute opened the way for a rival interest. After the general election of 1780 Glyn Wynn realised that his elder brother, Lord Newborough, who had been defeated for the county, would demand the borough for himself.

In 1754 the leading Whigs in Cardiganshire were John Lloyd of Peterwell, Thomas Johnes of Croft Castle, and Lord Lisburne of Crosswood. Of the leading Tory families, William Powell of Nanteos had no political ambitions, and John Pugh Pryse of Gogerddan, who had probably the best interest in the county, was a minor. The Tories, guided by Sir John Philipps of Picton Castle, a trustee of the Gogerddan estate, agreed to support Lloyd for the county on condition that John Symmons was supported in the borough by the Whigs.Philipps to Wm. Powell, 19 Apr. 1753, Nanteos mss, NLW.

The dominant interest was in the Morgans of Tredegar. Three other families possessed considerable influence: Jeffreys of the Priory, Jones of Buckland, and Williams of Gwernyfed. The only challenge to the Tredegar hold came in 1754 when Thomas Morgan, the sitting Member, was opposed by Howell Gwynne, whose uncle Roderick Gwynne bought the Buckland estate about this time.Ms poll book, Tredegar ms 33/40; T. Jones, Hist. Brec. iii. 212. Henceforth the Morgans represented Breconshire unopposed until 1806.

Brecon was a pocket borough of the Morgans of Tredegar, and was used by them to provide seats for junior members of the family who could not yet aspire to the honour of a county seat.

By the middle of the eighteenth century the Wynns of Glynllivon held the dominant interest in Caernarvonshire. At the general election of 1754 Sir John Wynn persisted in his determination to oppose the sitting Member, William Bodvell, despite pressure from the Duke of Newcastle; and to avoid a contest Lord Powis agreed to return Bodvell for Montgomery. When in 1761 Thomas Kyffin of Maenan canvassed Caernarvonshire, Sir John Wynn moved to the borough and left the county to his eldest son, Thomas.

The chief interests in Anglesey were those of the Baylys of Plas Newydd, the Bulkeleys of Baron Hill, and the Meyricks of Bodorgan; but there were also a good many smaller interests, and elections usually produced complex negotiations and manœuvres. The Meyricks were traditionally looked upon as Whigs, the Bulkeleys as Tories, while the alignment of the Baylys varied—in 1754 and 1761 Nicholas Bayly counted as ‘country party’; but at all times the politics of the island turned first and foremost on family interests.

Beaumaris was a pocket borough of the Bulkeley family of Baron Hill. During the minority of the 7th Viscount (1754-73), it was controlled first by his maternal grandfather Thomas Rowlands, and after his death in 1763 by the dowager Lady Bulkeley, who married secondly Sir Hugh Williams.

About 1754 Winchelsea was usually counted as a Treasury borough, but it was never as safe as Rye or Hastings. About half its electorate lived outside the town (the legal requirement of residence was ignored) and only a handful held places under Government. Its manager was Edwin Wardroper, who had been concerned in Winchelsea affairs since before 1739.

Robinson described Sandwich in 1784 as ‘a borough of contests’—no single interest had effective command. Government came nearest to it, and throughout this period named at least one Member—usually connected with the Admiralty. At the dissolution of 1754 the other seat was held by Sir George Oxenden, who had represented Sandwich since 1720. Amyand in 1754 and Conyngham in 1756 were returned on his interest.

Seaford was a decayed port; its electorate was deliberately restricted; and a large number were officers of the customs and excise. In 1754 the borough was under the patronage of the Duke of Newcastle; but Newcastle’s hold was never complete and always depended on the support of the Treasury.