Midhurst (UK Parliament constituency)
Encyclopedia
Midhurst was a parliamentary borough
in Sussex
, which elected two Members of Parliament
(MP) to the House of Commons
from 1311 until 1832, and then one member from 1832 until 1885, when the constituency was abolished. Before the Great Reform Act of 1832, it was one of the most notorious of England's rotten borough
s.
, a small market town in Sussex. Much of the town as it existed by the 19th century was outside this ancient boundary, but the boundary was in any case academic since the townsfolk had no votes. As a contemporary, writer, Sir George Trevelyan explained in writing about the general election of 1768
,
No doubt these "burgage
tenements" had once included houses, but long before the 19th century it was notorious that several of them consisted solely of the marker stones, set in the wall of the landowner's estate. Even compared with most of the other burgage boroughs this was an extreme situation, and during the parliamentary debates on the Reform Bills in 1831 and 1832 the reformers made much play of Midhurst's "niches in a wall" as an example of the abuses they wished to correct.
The natural result of a burgage franchise was to encourage some local landowner to attempt to buy up a majority of the tenements, thereby ensuring absolute control of the choice of both of the members of Parliament, and this happened at an early stage in many other burgage boroughs. In Midhurst, however, there was still no single proprietor by the middle of the 18th century. The most influential figure was The Viscount Montagu, who in 1754 claimed to own 104 burgages, but Sir John Peachey owned 40 and there were more than 70 independent burgage holders. Montagu could usually control matters since he could count on the support of at least half of the independent voters, but for many years there had been an agreement not to force matters, and the Peacheys were allowed one of the two seats.
However, after 1754 Montagu began to buy up the independent burgages; meanwhile Peachey sold his property in the borough to Sir William Peere Williams
, who in his turn also tried to increase his holding. At the general election of 1761
, the two proprietors seem to have been unsure which would prove to have a majority, and both the Prime Minister and opposition leaders were drawn into the negotiations before a compromise could be reached to avoid a contest. However, when Williams was killed during the capture of Belle Île
later the same year, his burgages seem to have been bought by Montagu, who thereafter had a clear field. In 1832 there were still said to be 148 burgage tenements, but only 41 qualified electors, of whom no more than 20 voted. Midhurst was now an undisputed pocket borough: its elections consisted, as Trevelyan related of 1768, in a legal fiction: ,
In fact by 1761, Montagu's political affairs were being directed by his son, Anthony Browne, who put the borough's seats at the disposal of his parliamentary leader, Lord Holland
- Holland used one of them to bring his son, Charles James Fox
, into Parliament even though underage. But Holland died before the 1774 election, and Browne (by now the 7th Viscount Montagu) being short of money sold the nomination for both seats to the Treasury in return for a government pension.
After the 7th Viscount's death in 1787, the Montagu property in the borough was sold to the Earl of Egremont for £40,000. The earl used the seat to return two of his younger brothers, Percy and Charles William to the Commons, with Charles only serving one parliament for Midhurst. Egremont in turn sold it to Lord Carrington
, who used it more often than not to provide a parliamentary seat for one his many brothers or nephews.
In 1831, the population of the borough was 1,478, and the first draft of the Reform Bill proposed to abolish it altogether. But after argument the government recognised that it was possible to make a more respectably-sized constituency by expanding the boundaries to bring in the whole of the town and some neighbouring parishes, and Midhurst was reprieved. The expanded borough consisted of the whole of nine parishes and part of ten others, and had a population of 5,627. Nevertheless, Midhurst was permitted to keep only one of its two seats. Under the reformed franchise, its electorate at the election of 1832 was 252; but this was not sufficient to lead to more competitive elections, since the MP was returned unopposed at every election between 1832 and 1868.
Midhurst was eventually abolished as a separate constituency in the boundary changes of 1885, the town being included from that date in the North Western (or Horsham)
county division.
Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, which elected two Members of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
from 1311 until 1832, and then one member from 1832 until 1885, when the constituency was abolished. Before the Great Reform Act of 1832, it was one of the most notorious of England's rotten borough
Rotten borough
A "rotten", "decayed" or pocket borough was a parliamentary borough or constituency in the United Kingdom that had a very small electorate and could be used by a patron to gain undue and unrepresentative influence within Parliament....
s.
History
From its foundation in the 14th century until 1832, the borough consisted of part of the parish of MidhurstMidhurst
Midhurst is a market town and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England, with a population of 4,889 in 2001. The town is situated on the River Rother and is home to the ruin of the Tudor Cowdray House and the stately Victorian Cowdray Park...
, a small market town in Sussex. Much of the town as it existed by the 19th century was outside this ancient boundary, but the boundary was in any case academic since the townsfolk had no votes. As a contemporary, writer, Sir George Trevelyan explained in writing about the general election of 1768
British general election, 1768
The British general election, 1768 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 13th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707.-Summary of the Constituencies:...
,
the right of election rested in a few small holdings, on which no human being resided, distinguished among the pastures and the stubble that surrounded them by a large stone set up on end in the middle of each portion.
No doubt these "burgage
Burgage
Burgage is a medieval land term used in England and Scotland, well established by the 13th century. A burgage was a town rental property , owned by a king or lord. The property usually, and distinctly, consisted of a house on a long and narrow plot of land, with the narrow end facing the street...
tenements" had once included houses, but long before the 19th century it was notorious that several of them consisted solely of the marker stones, set in the wall of the landowner's estate. Even compared with most of the other burgage boroughs this was an extreme situation, and during the parliamentary debates on the Reform Bills in 1831 and 1832 the reformers made much play of Midhurst's "niches in a wall" as an example of the abuses they wished to correct.
The natural result of a burgage franchise was to encourage some local landowner to attempt to buy up a majority of the tenements, thereby ensuring absolute control of the choice of both of the members of Parliament, and this happened at an early stage in many other burgage boroughs. In Midhurst, however, there was still no single proprietor by the middle of the 18th century. The most influential figure was The Viscount Montagu, who in 1754 claimed to own 104 burgages, but Sir John Peachey owned 40 and there were more than 70 independent burgage holders. Montagu could usually control matters since he could count on the support of at least half of the independent voters, but for many years there had been an agreement not to force matters, and the Peacheys were allowed one of the two seats.
However, after 1754 Montagu began to buy up the independent burgages; meanwhile Peachey sold his property in the borough to Sir William Peere Williams
Sir William Williams, 2nd Baronet, of Clapton
Sir William Peere Williams, 2nd Baronet MP was a politician in Great Britain. He was Member of Parliament for New Shoreham from 1758 until his death in 1761. He was born in Clapton, Northamptonshire, England to Sir Hutchins Williams, 1st Baronet of Clapton and Anne Hutchins.- References :*Burke,...
, who in his turn also tried to increase his holding. At the general election of 1761
British general election, 1761
The British general election, 1761 returned members to serve in the House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Great Britain to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707...
, the two proprietors seem to have been unsure which would prove to have a majority, and both the Prime Minister and opposition leaders were drawn into the negotiations before a compromise could be reached to avoid a contest. However, when Williams was killed during the capture of Belle Île
Belle Île
Belle-Île or Belle-Île-en-Mer is a French island off the coast of Brittany in the département of Morbihan, and the largest of Brittany's islands. It is 14 km from the Quiberon peninsula.Administratively, the island forms a canton: the canton of Belle-Île...
later the same year, his burgages seem to have been bought by Montagu, who thereafter had a clear field. In 1832 there were still said to be 148 burgage tenements, but only 41 qualified electors, of whom no more than 20 voted. Midhurst was now an undisputed pocket borough: its elections consisted, as Trevelyan related of 1768, in a legal fiction: ,
Viscount Montagu ... when an election was in prospect, assigned a few of [the burgage tenements] to his servants, with instructions to nominate the members and then make back the property to their employer.
In fact by 1761, Montagu's political affairs were being directed by his son, Anthony Browne, who put the borough's seats at the disposal of his parliamentary leader, Lord Holland
Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland
Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland, of Foxley, MP, PC was a leading British politician of the 18th century. He identified primarily with the Whig faction...
- Holland used one of them to bring his son, Charles James Fox
Charles James Fox
Charles James Fox PC , styled The Honourable from 1762, was a prominent British Whig statesman whose parliamentary career spanned thirty-eight years of the late 18th and early 19th centuries and who was particularly noted for being the arch-rival of William Pitt the Younger...
, into Parliament even though underage. But Holland died before the 1774 election, and Browne (by now the 7th Viscount Montagu) being short of money sold the nomination for both seats to the Treasury in return for a government pension.
After the 7th Viscount's death in 1787, the Montagu property in the borough was sold to the Earl of Egremont for £40,000. The earl used the seat to return two of his younger brothers, Percy and Charles William to the Commons, with Charles only serving one parliament for Midhurst. Egremont in turn sold it to Lord Carrington
Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington
Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington FRS was a British Member of Parliament and banker.Smith was the third son of Abel Smith and his wife Mary . His grandfather Abel Smith was the third son of Thomas Smith, the founder of Smith's Bank of Nottingham. Smith was elected to the House of Commons for...
, who used it more often than not to provide a parliamentary seat for one his many brothers or nephews.
In 1831, the population of the borough was 1,478, and the first draft of the Reform Bill proposed to abolish it altogether. But after argument the government recognised that it was possible to make a more respectably-sized constituency by expanding the boundaries to bring in the whole of the town and some neighbouring parishes, and Midhurst was reprieved. The expanded borough consisted of the whole of nine parishes and part of ten others, and had a population of 5,627. Nevertheless, Midhurst was permitted to keep only one of its two seats. Under the reformed franchise, its electorate at the election of 1832 was 252; but this was not sufficient to lead to more competitive elections, since the MP was returned unopposed at every election between 1832 and 1868.
Midhurst was eventually abolished as a separate constituency in the boundary changes of 1885, the town being included from that date in the North Western (or Horsham)
Horsham (UK Parliament constituency)
Horsham is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
county division.
1311-1640
| Parliament | First member | Second member |
|---|---|---|
| 1386 | Henry Exton | Thomas Smith II |
| 1388 (Feb) | Richard Hobekyn | Robert Hynkele |
| 1388 (Sep) | William Baggele | John Sarceller |
| 1390 (Jan) | Richard Hobekyn | John Mory |
| 1390 (Nov) | ||
| 1391 | ||
| 1393 | Thomas Clerk I | John G[renettour?] |
| 1394 | ||
| 1395 | John Grenettour | Robert atte Rode |
| 1397 (Jan) | William atte Barre | John Grenettour |
| 1397 (Sep) | William Baggele | Thomas Sarceller |
| 1399 | Michael Baggele | John Rombald |
| 1401 | Gregory Fuller | Robert Pechard |
| 1402 | Robert Cooper I | John Ive II |
| 1404 (Jan) | John Symkyn | Thomas Westlond |
| 1404 (Oct) | ||
| 1406 | William Brereton | John Stapleton I |
| 1407 | Thomas Lucas I | John Puckepole |
| 1410 | ||
| 1411 | ||
| 1413 (Feb) | ||
| 1413 (May) | John Vincent | Thomas Walsh II |
| 1414 (Apr) | ||
| 1414 (Nov) | John Walsh | John Rombald |
| 1415 | John Ive II | John Sewall |
| 1416 (Mar) | John Mousehole | John Sewall |
| 1416 (Oct) | ||
| 1417 | William Chyngford | Gregory Tanner |
| 1419 | Walter Lucas | Thomas Russell II |
| 1420 | Michael Maunser | Gregory Pedlyng |
| 1421 (May) | William Brereton | William Chyngford |
| 1421 (Dec) | William Brereton | Simon Lopeshurst |
| 1425 | John Sewall | ? Westlond |
| 1426 | Walter Lucas | |
| 1510-1523 | No names known | |
| 1529 | George Gifford | John Bassett |
| 1536 | ? | |
| 1539 | ? | |
| 1542 | Nicholas Dering | John Bourne |
| 1545 | ? | |
| 1547 | Edmund Ford | William Wightman |
| 1553 (Mar) | John Fitzwilliam | William Denton |
| 1553 (Oct) | Sir Thomas Lovell | William Denton |
| 1554 (Apr) | Michael Wentworth | William Denton |
| 1554 (Nov) | Thomas Harevy | William Denton |
| 1555 | William Denton | Henry Heighes |
| 1558 | Thomas Harvey | William Denton |
| 1558/9 | William Denton | Henry Heighes |
| 1562/3 | Edward Banester | William Denton, died and replaced 1566 by John Fenner |
| 1571 | Thomas Bowyer | Richard Porter |
| 1572 | Thomas Holcroft | Thomas Bowyer |
| 1584 | Edward More | Thomas Churcher |
| 1586 | Thomas Lewknor | Thomas Churcher |
| 1588/9 | Samuel Foxe | Thomas Churcher |
| 1593 | John Boys | Thomas Churcher |
| 1597 | Lewis Lewknor | James Smyth |
| 1601 | Richard Browne | Michael Haydon |
| 1604-1611 | Francis Nevile | Sir Richard Weston Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland, KG , was Chancellor of the Exchequer and later Lord Treasurer of England under James I and Charles I, being one of the most influential figures in the early years of Charles I's Personal Rule and the architect of many of the policies that enabled him to rule... |
| 1614 | Thomas Bowyer Sir Thomas Bowyer, 1st Baronet Sir Thomas Bowyer, 1st Baronet was an English politician.Baptised on 4 December 1586 in Mundham in Sussex, he was the son of Thomas Bowyer and Jane Birch. Bowyer was Member of Parliament for Midhurst in 1614 and for Bramber from 1621 to 1642. He was a High Sheriff of Surrey and High Sheriff of... |
William Courteman |
| 1621-1622 | John Smithe | Richard Lewknor Richard Lewknor Richard Lewknor was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1629.Lewknor was the son of Christopher Lewknor, recorder of Chichester, and his wife Mary May, daughter of John May of Rawmere, Sussex.... |
| 1624 | Sir Anthony Manie Anthony Manie Sir Anthony Manie was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1610 and 1624.Manie was the son of John Maney of Biddenham, Kent. He was knighted on 23 July 1609. In 1610, he was elected Member of Parliament for Cirencester in a by-election. He was re-elected MP... |
Richard Lewknor Richard Lewknor Richard Lewknor was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1629.Lewknor was the son of Christopher Lewknor, recorder of Chichester, and his wife Mary May, daughter of John May of Rawmere, Sussex.... |
| 1625 | Richard Lewknor Richard Lewknor Richard Lewknor was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1629.Lewknor was the son of Christopher Lewknor, recorder of Chichester, and his wife Mary May, daughter of John May of Rawmere, Sussex.... |
Samuel Owfield Samuel Owfield Sir Samuel Owfield was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1624 and 1644.Owfield was the son of Roger Owfield, Fishmonger, of Billiter Lane, London and his wife Thomasine More, daughter of John More, merchant, of Ipswich. Owfield had acquired the manor... |
| 1626 | Richard Lewknor Richard Lewknor Richard Lewknor was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1629.Lewknor was the son of Christopher Lewknor, recorder of Chichester, and his wife Mary May, daughter of John May of Rawmere, Sussex.... |
Sir Henry Spiller |
| 1628 | Christopher Lewknor Christopher Lewknor Christopher Lewknor was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1628 and 1641. He supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War.... |
Edward Savage |
| 1629–1640 | No Parliaments summoned | |
1640-1832
| Year | First member | First party | Second member | Second party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1640 Short Parliament The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles I of England, so called because it lasted only three weeks.... |
Robert Long Sir Robert Long, 1st Baronet Sir Robert Long, 1st Baronet was a courtier, administrator and politician in 17th century England.He was the son of Sir Walter Long of South Wraxall and Draycot in Wiltshire, and his wife Catherine Thynne of Longleat... |
Thomas May Thomas May (Royalist) Thomas May was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1642. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.... |
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| November 1640 Long Parliament The Long Parliament was made on 3 November 1640, following the Bishops' Wars. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could only be dissolved with the agreement of the members, and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and... |
Dr Chaworth | Thomas May Thomas May (Royalist) Thomas May was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1642. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.... |
Royalist | |||
| February 1641 | William Cawley William Cawley William Cawley was a regicide and seventeenth century English politician. He was born in Chichester in 1602, the son of a wealthy brewer, and was educated at Chichester Grammar School, Oxford University and Gray's Inn.... |
Parliamentarian | ||||
| November 1642 | May disabled from sitting - seat vacant | |||||
| 1645 | Sir Gregory Norton | |||||
| 1653 | Midhurst was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament Barebones Parliament Barebone's Parliament, also known as the Little Parliament, the Nominated Assembly and the Parliament of Saints, came into being on 4 July 1653, and was the last attempt of the English Commonwealth to find a stable political form before the installation of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector... and the First First Protectorate Parliament The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House.... and Second Second Protectorate Parliament The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons... Parliaments of the Protectorate |
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| January 1659 Third Protectorate Parliament The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons... |
William Yalden | Benjamin Weston | ||||
| May 1659 Rump Parliament The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason.... |
William Cawley William Cawley William Cawley was a regicide and seventeenth century English politician. He was born in Chichester in 1602, the son of a wealthy brewer, and was educated at Chichester Grammar School, Oxford University and Gray's Inn.... |
One seat vacant | ||||
| April 1660 | William Willoughby | John Steward | ||||
| March 1661 | John Lewknor | Adam Browne Sir Adam Browne, 2nd Baronet Sir Adam Browne, 2nd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1661 and 1689. He fought in the Royalist army in the English Civil War.... |
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| May 1661 | John Steward | |||||
| February 1679 | Sir William Morley William Morley Sir William Morley was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1642. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.Morley was knighted at Titchfield on 4 September 1625.... |
John Alford John Alford (died 1691) John Alford was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1two periods between 1679 and 1690.Alford was the son of Sir Edward Alford of Offington and his second wife Ann Corbet. Hs father died when he was aged eight... |
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| October 1679 | John Lewknor | |||||
| 1681 | William Montagu | John Cooke | ||||
| 1685 | Sir William Morley William Morley Sir William Morley was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1642. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.Morley was knighted at Titchfield on 4 September 1625.... |
John Lewknor | ||||
| 1701 | Lawrence Alcock | |||||
| 1705 | Robert Orme | |||||
| 1709 | Thomas Meredyth | |||||
| 1710 | Robert Orme | |||||
| 1711 | John Pratt John Pratt (judge) Sir John Pratt was an English judge and politician.Pratt was Lord Chief Justice of England from May 15, 1718 until March 2, 1725. He was appointed as an interim Chancellor of the Exchequer on February 2, 1721, until April 3, 1721.... |
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| 1713 | William Woodward Knight | |||||
| 1715 | John Fortescue Aland | |||||
| 1717 | The Viscount Midleton Alan Brodrick, 1st Viscount Midleton Alan Brodrick, 1st Viscount Midleton PC was an Irish lawyer and politician.-Background:He was the second son of Sir St John Brodrick of Ballyannan, near Midleton in County Cork, by his wife Alice , daughter of Laurence Clayton of Mallow, County Cork and sister of Colonel Randall Clayton M.P., of... |
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| 1721 | Sir Richard Mill, Bt | |||||
| 1722 | Bulstrode Peachey Knight | |||||
| 1729 | Sir Richard Mill, Bt | |||||
| 1734 | (Sir) Thomas Bootle | |||||
| 1736 | Sir Henry Peachey, Bt | |||||
| 1738 | Sir John Peachey, Bt | |||||
| 1744 | Sir John Peachey, Bt | |||||
| 1754 | John Sargent | |||||
| 1761 | William Hamilton William Hamilton (diplomat) Sir William Hamilton KB, PC, FRS was a Scottish diplomat, antiquarian, archaeologist and vulcanologist. After a short period as a Member of Parliament, he served as British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples from 1764 to 1800... |
John Burgoyne John Burgoyne General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762.... |
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| 1765 | Bamber Gascoyne Bamber Gascoyne (senior) Bamber Gascoyne of Childwell Hall, Lancashire , was an 18th century English politician, a member of the House of Commons of Great Britain.... |
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| 1768 | Lord Stavordale Henry Fox-Strangways, 2nd Earl of Ilchester Henry Thomas Fox-Strangways, 2nd Earl of Ilchester , known as Lord Stavordale from 1756 to 1776, was a British peer and Member of Parliament.... |
Hon. Charles James Fox Charles James Fox Charles James Fox PC , styled The Honourable from 1762, was a prominent British Whig statesman whose parliamentary career spanned thirty-eight years of the late 18th and early 19th centuries and who was particularly noted for being the arch-rival of William Pitt the Younger... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| October 1774 | Herbert Mackworth | Clement Tudway | ||||
| December 1774 | Hon. Henry Seymour-Conway Lord Henry Seymour-Conway Lord Henry Seymour was a British politician, the second son of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford. He was known as Hon... |
John Ord | ||||
| September 1780 | Hon. John St John | Hon. Henry Drummond | ||||
| November 1780 | Sir Sampson Gideon Sampson Eardley, 1st Baron Eardley Sampson Eardley, 1st Baron Eardley , known as Sampson Gideon until 1789, was the son of another Sampson Gideon , a Jewish banker in the City of London who advised the British government in the 1740s and 1750s.He served as Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire from 1770 to 1780, Midhurst from 1780... |
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| April 1784 | Benjamin Lethieullier | |||||
| June 1784 | Edward Cotsford | |||||
| 1790 | Hon. Percy Wyndham | Hon. Charles Wyndham | ||||
| 1795 | Peter Thellusson Peter Thellusson, 1st Baron Rendlesham Peter Isaac Thellusson, 1st Baron Rendlesham was a British merchant and politician.Thelluson was the eldest son of Peter Thellusson, a wealthy London merchant who had emigrated to Britain from France in 1760, and his wife Ann, daughter of Matthew Woodford... |
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| 1796 | Sylvester Douglas Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie Sylvester Douglas, 1st Baron Glenbervie PC, KC, FRS, FSA was a British lawyer, politician and diarist. He was Chief Secretary for Ireland between 1793 and 1794.-Background, education and legal career:... |
Charles Long Charles Long, 1st Baron Farnborough Charles Long, 1st Baron Farnborough GCB PC PC FRS FSA was an English politician and connoisseur of the arts.-Early life:... |
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| 1800 | George Smith George Smith (1765-1836) George Smith was a British Member of Parliament, banker and director of the East India Company.He was the fifth son of Abel Smith, a wealthy Nottingham banker and Member of Parliament. Four of his brothers were also Members of Parliament and one, Robert, was raised to the peerage as Baron Carrington... |
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| July 1802 | Samuel Smith | |||||
| 1802 | Edmund Turnor | |||||
| 1806 | John Smith John Smith (Wendover MP) John Smith was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1806 to 1835 and a banker.He was the sixth son of Abel Smith, a Nottingham banker who was a Member of Parliament for Aldborough, St Ives, and St Germans, and the brother of Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington. He lived at... |
Tory | William Wickham | Tory | ||
| January 1807 | Henry Watkin Williams-Wynn Henry Watkin Williams-Wynn Henry Watkins William-Wynn was a British MP in the early 19th century. William-Wynn sat for Midhurst from January to May 1807.... |
William Conyngham Plunket William Plunket, 1st Baron Plunket William Conyngham Plunket, 1st Baron Plunket PC was an Irish politician and lawyer who eventually became Lord Chancellor of Ireland.... |
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| May 1807 | Samuel Smith | James Abercromby James Abercromby, 1st Baron Dunfermline James Abercromby, 1st Baron Dunfermline PC , was a British barrister and Whig politician. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons between 1835 and 1839.-Background and education:... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| July 1807 | Thomas Thompson | |||||
| October 1812 | George Smith | |||||
| December 1812 | Viscount Mahon | |||||
| 1817 | Sir Oswald Mosley Sir Oswald Mosley, 2nd Baronet, of Ancoats Sir Oswald Mosley, 2nd Baronet, of Ancoats was a British politician and writer.-Family:He was the son of Oswald Mosley , son of Sir John Parker Mosley, 1st Baronet, of Ancoats , created 1st Baronet Mosley, of Ancoats, in the Baronetage of Great Britain, on 8 June 1781, and wife Sir Oswald Mosley,... |
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| 1818 | Samuel Smith | John Smith John Smith (Wendover MP) John Smith was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1806 to 1835 and a banker.He was the sixth son of Abel Smith, a Nottingham banker who was a Member of Parliament for Aldborough, St Ives, and St Germans, and the brother of Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington. He lived at... |
Tory | |||
| 1820 | Abel Smith Abel Smith (1788-1859) Abel Smith was a longtime British Member of Parliament.He was the eighth child but eldest son of Samuel Smith, also a Member of Parliament, and nephew of Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington... |
Tory | ||||
| 1830 | John Abel Smith John Abel Smith John Abel Smith was a British Member of Parliament for Chichester and Midhurst.He was the son of John Smith who preceded him as MP for Midhurst.... |
George Smith | ||||
| 1831 | George Robert Smith | Martin Tucker Smith | ||||
| 1832 United Kingdom general election, 1832 -Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807.... |
Representation reduced to one member | |||||
1832-1885
| Year | Member | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1832 | Hon. Frederick Spencer Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer Vice-Admiral Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer KG, CB, PC , styled The Honourable Frederick Spencer until 1845, was a British naval commander, courtier and Whig politician. He initially served in the Royal Navy and fought in the Napoleonic Wars and the Greek War of Independence, eventually rising... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1835 | William Stephen Poyntz William Stephen Poyntz William Stephen Poyntz was an English Whig and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1800 and 1837.Poyntz was the son of William Poyntz and his wife Isabella Courtenay... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1837 | Hon. Frederick Spencer Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer Vice-Admiral Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer KG, CB, PC , styled The Honourable Frederick Spencer until 1845, was a British naval commander, courtier and Whig politician. He initially served in the Royal Navy and fought in the Napoleonic Wars and the Greek War of Independence, eventually rising... |
Whig British Whig Party The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule... |
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| 1841 | Sir Horace Beauchamp Seymour | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1846 | Spencer Horatio Walpole Spencer Horatio Walpole Spencer Horatio Walpole, QC, LLD was a British Conservative politician who served three times as Home Secretary in the administrations of Lord Derby.-Background and education:... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1856 | Samuel Warren Samuel Warren (English lawyer) Samuel Warren , was a British lawyer, novelist and MP.He was born near Wrexham, Denbighshire, the son of a Nonconformist minister... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| March 1859 | John Hardy Sir John Hardy, 1st Baronet Sir John Hardy, 1st Baronet , was a British Conservative Member of Parliament.Hardy was the son of John Hardy and Isabele Gathorne. Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranbrook, was his younger brother. Hardy was elected to the House of Commons for Midhurst in March 1859, but held the seat for... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| April 1859 | William Townley Mitford William Townley Mitford William Townley Mitford was a Victorian Conservative Party politician in Britain.He was born at Pitshill in West Sussex in 1817. He built Bedham school near Fittleworth, which was later used as a church and is now derelict.... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| February 1874 | Charles Perceval | Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| September 1874 | Sir Henry Thurstan Holland Henry Holland, 1st Viscount Knutsford Henry Thurstan Holland, 1st Viscount Knutsford GCMG, PC , known as Sir Henry Holland, Bt, from 1873 to 1888 and as The Lord Knutsford from 1888 to 1895, was a British Conservative politician, best known for serving as Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1887 to 1892.-Background and... |
Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... |
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| 1885 United Kingdom general election, 1885 -Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:... |
Constituency abolished | ||