British general election, 1710
Encyclopedia
The British general election, 1710 produced a landslide victory for the Tory
party in the wake of the prosecution of Henry Sacheverell
and the collapse of the previous Whig
government lead by Godolphin
and the Whig junto. In November 1709 the clergyman Henry Sacheverell had delivered a sermon fiercely criticising the government's policy of toleration for Protestant dissenters and attacking the personal conduct of the ministers. The government had Sacherevell impeached, and he was narrowly found guilty, but received only a light sentence, making the government appear weak and vindictive; the trial enraged a large section of the population, and riots in London lead to attacks on dissenting places of worship.
The government's unpopularity was further increased by their enthusiasm for the war with France, as peace talks with the French king had broken down over the government's insistence that the Bourbons hand over the Spanish thrown to the Habsburgs. The Tories' policy of actively pursuing peace appealed to a country worn out by constant war. The Queen, disliking the Junto and sensing that the government could not survive long, gradually replaced it with a Tory ministry throughout the summer of 1710. The overwhelming Tory victory surprised few, and following the election most remaining Whigs resigned from office. The new government was lead by the moderate Tory Robert Harley who was unpopular among the more partisan Tories, and his ministry faced increasing pressure from the extremists whose position in Parliament had been enormously strengthened by the result. Contests occurred in 131 constituencies in England and Wales, around half the total; the election was bitterly contested in almost all the counties and 'open' boroughs, even when a poll was not held.
for details. The constituencies used were the same throughout the existence of the Parliament of Great Britain.
fixed the precise date (see hustings for details of the conduct of the elections).
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
party in the wake of the prosecution of Henry Sacheverell
Henry Sacheverell
Henry Sacheverell was an English High Church clergyman and politician.-Early life:The son of Joshua Sacheverell, rector of St Peter's, Marlborough,...
and the collapse of the previous Whig
Whig
-In the British Isles:* A faction of the Scottish Covenanters during the 17th-century Wars of the Three Kingdoms, and the original Whigs....
government lead by Godolphin
Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin
Sir Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin, KG, PC was a leading English politician of the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
and the Whig junto. In November 1709 the clergyman Henry Sacheverell had delivered a sermon fiercely criticising the government's policy of toleration for Protestant dissenters and attacking the personal conduct of the ministers. The government had Sacherevell impeached, and he was narrowly found guilty, but received only a light sentence, making the government appear weak and vindictive; the trial enraged a large section of the population, and riots in London lead to attacks on dissenting places of worship.
The government's unpopularity was further increased by their enthusiasm for the war with France, as peace talks with the French king had broken down over the government's insistence that the Bourbons hand over the Spanish thrown to the Habsburgs. The Tories' policy of actively pursuing peace appealed to a country worn out by constant war. The Queen, disliking the Junto and sensing that the government could not survive long, gradually replaced it with a Tory ministry throughout the summer of 1710. The overwhelming Tory victory surprised few, and following the election most remaining Whigs resigned from office. The new government was lead by the moderate Tory Robert Harley who was unpopular among the more partisan Tories, and his ministry faced increasing pressure from the extremists whose position in Parliament had been enormously strengthened by the result. Contests occurred in 131 constituencies in England and Wales, around half the total; the election was bitterly contested in almost all the counties and 'open' boroughs, even when a poll was not held.
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 2 October 1710 and 16 November 1710. At this period elections did not take place at the same time in every constituency. The returning officer in each county or parliamentary boroughParliamentary 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).