British general election, 1727
Encyclopedia
The British general election, 1727 returned members to serve in the House of Commons
of the 7th Parliament of Great Britain
to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England
and the Parliament of Scotland
in 1707. The election was triggered by the death of George I
; at the time elections were required to be held at the succession of a new monarch. The Tories, lead in the House of Commons by William Wyndham
and under the direction of Bolingbroke
, who had returned to the country in 1723 after being pardoned for his role in the 1715 rebellion
lost further ground to the Whigs, rendering them ineffectual and largely irrelevant to practical politics. A group known as the Patriot Whigs
lead by William Pulteney, who were disenchanted with Walpole's government and believed he was betraying Whig principles, had been formed prior to the election. Bolingbroke and Pulteney had not expected the next election to occur until 1729, and were consequently caught unprepared and failed to make any gains against the government.
for details. The constituencies used were the same throughout the existence of the Parliament of Great Britain.
At this period elections did not take place at the same time in every constituency. The returning officer in each county or parliamentary borough
fixed the precise date (see hustings for details of the conduct of the elections).
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
of the 7th Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
and the Parliament of Scotland
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
in 1707. The election was triggered by the death of George I
George I
George I may refer to:* Patriarch George I of Constantinople * George I of Georgia * George I of Russia, * George I of Bulgaria * George I of Halych George I may refer to:* Patriarch George I of Constantinople (d. 686)* George I of Georgia (1014–1027)* George I of Russia, (c. 1099–1157)* George I...
; at the time elections were required to be held at the succession of a new monarch. The Tories, lead in the House of Commons by William Wyndham
William Wyndham
William Wyndham may refer to:*Sir William Wyndham, 1st Baronet , of Orchard Wyndham, English politician, Member of Parliament for Somerset, 1656–1658 and for Taunton 1660–1679...
and under the direction of Bolingbroke
Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke
Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke was an English politician, government official and political philosopher. He was a leader of the Tories, and supported the Church of England politically despite his atheism. In 1715 he supported the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 which sought to overthrow the...
, who had returned to the country in 1723 after being pardoned for his role in the 1715 rebellion
Jacobite Rising of 1715
The Jacobite rising of 1715, often referred to as The 'Fifteen, was the attempt by James Francis Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for the exiled House of Stuart.-Background:...
lost further ground to the Whigs, rendering them ineffectual and largely irrelevant to practical politics. A group known as the Patriot Whigs
Patriot Whigs
The Patriot Whigs and, later Patriot Party, was a group within the Whig party in Great Britain from 1725 to 1803. The group was formed in opposition to the ministry of Robert Walpole in the House of Commons in 1725, when William Pulteney and seventeen other Whigs joined with the Tory party in...
lead by William Pulteney, who were disenchanted with Walpole's government and believed he was betraying Whig principles, had been formed prior to the election. Bolingbroke and Pulteney had not expected the next election to occur until 1729, and were consequently caught unprepared and failed to make any gains against the government.
Summary of the Constituencies
See British general election, 1796British general election, 1796
The British general election, 1796 returned members to serve in the 18th and last House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain to be held before the formation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801...
for details. The constituencies used were the same throughout the existence of the Parliament of Great Britain.
Dates of Election
The general election was held between 14 August 1727 and 17 October 1727.At this period elections did not take place at the same time in every constituency. The returning officer in each county or parliamentary borough
Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
fixed the precise date (see hustings for details of the conduct of the elections).
See also
- List of Parliaments of Great Britain
- MPs elected in the British general election, 1727