Tag: Voting

Victorian Commons, 19th Century history, Constituencies, Elections, Victorian

Who could vote? From potwallopers to ten-pounders: post-1832 franchises explained

Clarifying the workings of England’s historic electoral system, Philip Salmon examines who could vote following the changes made by the ‘Great’ Reform Act of 1832. This article covers the system which was in operation until the next major Reform Act in 1867. Potwallopers, ten-pounders, scot and lot voters, copyholders, burgage holders, freemen, forty-shilling freeholders, tenants-at-will – these are just some of the archaic terms for … Continue reading Who could vote? From potwallopers to ten-pounders: post-1832 franchises explained

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Constituencies, Elections, Factions, George I, George II, Georgian, Local History, Parties, Robert Walpole

One half of ‘all England’? Yorkshire elections in the 18th century

The elections of May 2026 in England, Scotland and Wales provide another opportunity to consider some of the features of parliamentary elections in the unreformed 18th century. Here Dr Charles Littleton looks at one of the period’s more notable constituencies and one particularly turbulent contest there. Between 1715 and 1832 there were 22 general elections. Attention to these is usually most focussed on some of … Continue reading One half of ‘all England’? Yorkshire elections in the 18th century

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19th Century history, Constituencies, Elections, Electoral Reform, Legislative History, Victorian, Victorian Commons

How many people could vote in the UK after the 1832 Reform Act?

As part of our series of ‘explainer’ articles, aimed at clarifying the workings of the United Kingdom’s historic political system, Dr Martin Spychal examines how many people could vote in the UK after the 1832 Reform Act. This article draws from a new dataset of voting information for each constituency between 1832 and 1867, which Martin has been developing for the History of Parliament’s Commons … Continue reading How many people could vote in the UK after the 1832 Reform Act?

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History of Parliament Trust, 18th Century history, Constituencies, Elections, George II, George III, Georgian, Georgian Elections Project, Georgian Lords, Local History, Queen Anne

Steps towards identifying new Black voters in 18th-century Westminster and Hertfordshire

A few months ago, the History welcomed a guest post by Dr Gillian Williamson with her groundbreaking research into John London, to date the earliest known Black voter in Britain, who lodged his vote in the 1749 by-election for Westminster. In this latest post, Dr Robin Eagles explains the potential discovery of further Black voters taking part in the same contest and subsequent polls in … Continue reading Steps towards identifying new Black voters in 18th-century Westminster and Hertfordshire

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Contemporary History, 20th century history, Elections, Modern, Oral history, Parties

Down for the count: election night highs and lows

As the UK goes to the polls today, here Dr Emma Peplow shares memories from our oral history archive, exploring how former MPs felt on polling day and how they approached the night of the count… Today most of the UK’s election candidates will be racing around their constituencies trying to make sure their supporters go to vote. But this is just the start of … Continue reading Down for the count: election night highs and lows

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Georgian Elections Project, 18th Century history, Elections, Georgian, History of Parliament Trust, Social history

Chairing successful candidates

As the results of the 2024 General Election start to come in, successful candidates will have different ways to celebrate their win- but it is unlikely that these newly-elected MPs will be hoisted in the air in a traditional ‘chairing’ ceremony… In the latest blog for our Georgian elections project Dr Robin Eagles looks at this tradition and some of the 18th century constituencies that … Continue reading Chairing successful candidates

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Georgian Elections Project, 18th Century history, Elections, History of Parliament Trust, Local History, Social history

The ups and downs of a London election: examining London poll books

As pollsters look for constituencies across the country to act as representatives of how the wider nation may vote in the upcoming election, in the 18th century you might have looked to the capital city. Here Dr Robin Eagles explores how the City of London voted in two key elections either side of George I’s accession to the throne, as part of our Georgian Elections … Continue reading The ups and downs of a London election: examining London poll books

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The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Elections, Medieval

Parliamentary Elections in the Fifteenth Century

As the UK prepares to go to the polls for the 2024 General Election, modern politicians continue their campaigns across the nation, in an attempt to persuade electors to vote for them on July 4. However, for much of the middle ages, parliamentary elections saw no voting take place at all! Dr Hannes Kleineke, editor of our House of Commons 1461-1504 project, explains some of … Continue reading Parliamentary Elections in the Fifteenth Century

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Elections, Factions, Georgian, Legal history

‘Not voting at all’: the election of an imprisoned MP in 1769

2024 represents the 250th anniversary of John Wilkes’s re-election for Middlesex and election as Lord Mayor of London. It was by any measure a remarkable achievement for a man who had been expelled from Parliament and imprisoned; but what of those who were so determined to cast their votes for someone Parliament deemed incapable of being elected? Dr Robin Eagles looks again at the Wilkes … Continue reading ‘Not voting at all’: the election of an imprisoned MP in 1769

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Georgian Lords, 18th Century history, Elections, Local History, Parties, Social history

‘Kind patron of the mirthful fray’: the English aristocracy and cricket in the 18th century

The Ashes Test series currently under way provides an opportunity to consider the English aristocracy’s role in cricket’s early development in the 18th century. In this blog for the Georgian Lords Dr Charles Littleton looks back at some of the early developers of the game. Foremost among cricket’s early patrons (according to rank) was the heir to the throne, Frederick, Prince of Wales. Within three … Continue reading ‘Kind patron of the mirthful fray’: the English aristocracy and cricket in the 18th century

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