Parliamentary BoroughsParliamentary BoroughsA Local History of A Local History of

Nottinghamshire and LincolnshireNottinghamshire and Lincolnshire

A Two Part StudyA Two Part Study

First, Study the ElectorateFirst, Study the Electorate

Second, examine the people studied and Second, examine the people studied and their backgrounds. their backgrounds.

Electorate SizeElectorate Size

Graphically show the size of the electorate Graphically show the size of the electorate from 1747-1818from 1747-1818

Compare the number of contested Compare the number of contested elections during this time periodelections during this time period

Graph rate of growth of the electorate.Graph rate of growth of the electorate.

Grantham’s ElectorateGrantham’s Electorate

Grantham’s Grantham’s electorate doubled electorate doubled up through 1818.up through 1818.

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

1747 1784 1818

Grantham

Newark’s ElectorateNewark’s Electorate

Newark’s electorate Newark’s electorate also roughly doubled also roughly doubled during this same time during this same time period. period.

0

100200

300400

500

600700

800900

1000

1734 1754 1784 1818

Newark

Nottingham’s ElectorateNottingham’s Electorate

Nottingham’s Nottingham’s electorate nearly electorate nearly tripled in the same tripled in the same time period.time period.

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

1722 1747 1784 1818

Nottingham

Lincoln’s ElectorateLincoln’s Electorate

Lincoln’s electorate Lincoln’s electorate also roughly doubled also roughly doubled during this time during this time period. period.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1747 1784 1818

Lincoln

Number of Contested ElectionsNumber of Contested Elections

Grantham had six contested electionsGrantham had six contested elections Newark had nineNewark had nine Nottingham had fifteenNottingham had fifteen Lincoln had fifteenLincoln had fifteen

The larger electorates had more contested The larger electorates had more contested elections from 1715-1818.elections from 1715-1818.

Rates of Electoral GrowthRates of Electoral Growth

Three boroughs doubled their electorate Three boroughs doubled their electorate while one roughly tripled the electorate. while one roughly tripled the electorate.

Nottingham and Lincoln, which had the Nottingham and Lincoln, which had the larger electorate, had more contested larger electorate, had more contested elections. elections.

Conclusions: Part OneConclusions: Part One

A larger electorate is more difficult to A larger electorate is more difficult to control politically, resulting in more control politically, resulting in more challenges to elections. challenges to elections.

The rate of growth apparently does not The rate of growth apparently does not outwardly affect the number of elections. outwardly affect the number of elections.

Other political factors must be examined in Other political factors must be examined in order to more fully understand why some order to more fully understand why some boroughs contest more often.boroughs contest more often.

Part Two: Member BackgroundsPart Two: Member Backgrounds

We will graph three different types of We will graph three different types of backgrounds of Members of Parliament backgrounds of Members of Parliament studied.studied. Military BackgroundMilitary Background Gentleman Background (Large Landholder)Gentleman Background (Large Landholder) Commoner (Little land, potentially wealthy Commoner (Little land, potentially wealthy

through trade)through trade)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Military Gentleman Commoner Total Studied

Grantham

Lincoln

Nottingham

Newark

BackgroundsBackgrounds

PercentagesPercentages

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Military Gentlemen Commoner

Newark

Nottinham

Lincoln

Grantham

Conclusions: Part TwoConclusions: Part Two

Nottingham returned the most people with Nottingham returned the most people with common birth.common birth. Most democratic?Most democratic?

Newark returned no one of common birth.Newark returned no one of common birth. Least democratic?Least democratic?

Lincoln returned more gentleman.Lincoln returned more gentleman. Most expensive to run, large competing groups of Most expensive to run, large competing groups of

gentlemen.gentlemen. Grantham returned even numbers of all three, Grantham returned even numbers of all three,

indicating no particular favor. indicating no particular favor. Grantham’s MPs were tightly controlled by two Grantham’s MPs were tightly controlled by two

houses. houses.

Paper’s findingsPaper’s findings

Nottingham’s borough grew increasingly radical Nottingham’s borough grew increasingly radical over time, returning more and more radical over time, returning more and more radical members.members.

Grantham’s borough became a competition Grantham’s borough became a competition between local (Whig) and outside (Tory) between local (Whig) and outside (Tory) interests.interests.

Lincoln was an expensive borough to campaign Lincoln was an expensive borough to campaign in, often having three competing candidates, in, often having three competing candidates, Tory, Whig and Freeholder.Tory, Whig and Freeholder.

Newark’s borough changed least, with powerful Newark’s borough changed least, with powerful landed interests throughout the time period. landed interests throughout the time period.