Tag: election polls

18th Century history, Elections, Georgian Lords

The will of the people? The Middlesex elections of 1769

250 years ago, in April 1769, the electors of Middlesex went to the polls: the third by-election they had experienced that year since one of their two MPs, John Wilkes, had been expelled from Parliament. Dr Robin Eagles, Editor of the House of Lords 1660-1832 Section, examines the background to the election and how Parliament resolved the crisis. John Wilkes had originally been returned as … Continue reading The will of the people? The Middlesex elections of 1769

Robin Eagles4 Comments
Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Elections, Georgian, Women and Parliament

“The Cause of Decency against Indecency”: Lady Chatham and the 1788 Westminster election

The latest post from the Georgian Lords features a guest blog by Dr Jacqueline Reiter, biographer of the 2nd earl of Chatham, on the role of the countess of Chatham in the notorious Westminster by-election held in the summer of 1788. On 12 July 1788, the London Gazette announced the appointment of Vice-Admiral Samuel, Lord Hood, to the Admiralty Board. Members of Parliament who accepted … Continue reading “The Cause of Decency against Indecency”: Lady Chatham and the 1788 Westminster election

History of Parliament1 Comment
Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Elections, Parties, Victorian

Predicting the polls: a Victorian perspective

As the UK goes to the polls today, here’s the last in our series of blogs on elections through the centuries. With the outcome of today’s vote still baffling the pollsters, Dr Philip Salmon, Editor of the Victorian Commons, discusses how parties tried to deal with uncertainty before voting was secret… As the UK’s pollsters and pundits vie for coverage in what appears to be … Continue reading Predicting the polls: a Victorian perspective

Philip Salmon1 Comment