British general election, 1754
Encyclopedia
The British general election, 1754 returned members to serve in the House of Commons
of the 11th Parliament of Great Britain
to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England
and the Parliament of Scotland
in 1707.
Owing to the extensive use of corruption and the Duke of Newcastle's personal influence in pocket boroughs, the government was returned to office with a working majority.
The old parties had disappeared almost completely by this stage; anyone with reasonable hopes of achieving office called himself a 'Whig', though the term had lost most of its original meaning, and though 'Tory' and 'Whig' were still used to refer to particular political leanings and tendencies, parties in the old sense were no longer relevant except in a small minority of constituencies, such as Oxfordshire
, with most elections being fought on local issues and the holders of political power being determined by the shifting allegiance of factions and aristocratic families rather than the strength or popularity of any organised parties. A small group of MPs still considered themselves Tories, but they were almost totally irrelevant to practical politics and entirely excluded from holding public office.
for details. The constituencies used were the same throughout the existence of the Parliament of Great Britain.
At this period elections did not take place at the same time in every constituency. The returning officer in each county or parliamentary borough
fixed the precise date (see hustings for details of the conduct of the elections).
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
of the 11th Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
to be held, after the merger of the Parliament of England
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
and the Parliament of Scotland
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
in 1707.
Owing to the extensive use of corruption and the Duke of Newcastle's personal influence in pocket boroughs, the government was returned to office with a working majority.
The old parties had disappeared almost completely by this stage; anyone with reasonable hopes of achieving office called himself a 'Whig', though the term had lost most of its original meaning, and though 'Tory' and 'Whig' were still used to refer to particular political leanings and tendencies, parties in the old sense were no longer relevant except in a small minority of constituencies, such as Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire Election 1754
The Oxfordshire Election of 1754, part of the British general election of that year and involving the selection of two Members of Parliament to represent the Oxfordshire constituency, was probably the most notorious English county election of the 18th century...
, with most elections being fought on local issues and the holders of political power being determined by the shifting allegiance of factions and aristocratic families rather than the strength or popularity of any organised parties. A small group of MPs still considered themselves Tories, but they were almost totally irrelevant to practical politics and entirely excluded from holding public office.
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 13 April 1754 and 20 May 1754.At this period elections did not take place at the same time in every constituency. The returning officer in each county or parliamentary borough
Parliamentary 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).
See also
- List of Parliaments of Great Britain
- MPs elected in the British general election, 1754MPs elected in the British general election, 1754MPs elected in the British general election, 1754This is a list of MPs or members of Parliament elected to the Parliament of Great Britain in 1754, for the 11th Parliament of Great Britain....
- Oxfordshire Election 1754Oxfordshire Election 1754The Oxfordshire Election of 1754, part of the British general election of that year and involving the selection of two Members of Parliament to represent the Oxfordshire constituency, was probably the most notorious English county election of the 18th century...