Brackleywas aparliamentary boroughinNorthamptonshire,which elected twoMembers of Parliament(MPs) to theHouse of Commonsfrom 1547 until 1832, when the constituency was abolished by theGreat Reform Act.
| Brackley | |
|---|---|
| Formerborough constituency for theHouse of Commons | |
| 1547–1832 | |
| Seats | Two |
History
editThe borough consisted of the town ofBrackley,a market town where the main economic interests were making lace and footwear. In 1831, the population of the borough was 2,107, and the town contained 378 houses. While this by no means put it among the smallest of therotten boroughs,it was barely the half the size which was eventually required to retain representation after 1832.
Brackley was a corporation borough, the right to vote having been restricted to the Mayor, 6aldermenand 26 "burgesses" (the remaining members of the corporation), a total electorate of 33, in the reign ofJames II.The Mayor was appointed by theLord of the Manor,and the major local landowners or "patrons" had total control over the election of MPs. In the mid 18th century theDuke of Bridgewaterwas able to nominate both MPs;[1]by the time of the Reform Act, theEarl of Bridgewaternominated to one seat and theMarquess of Staffordto the other.
Brackley lost both its MPs under the provisions of the Reform Act.
Members of Parliament
edit1547–1640
edit1640–1832
editNotes
edit- ^Page 144,Lewis Namier,The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III(2nd edition – London: St Martin's Press, 1957)
- ^abcdefg"History of Parliament".Retrieved2 October2011.
- ^abcdefghi"History of Parliament".Retrieved2 October2011.
- ^Succeeded as TheViscount Wenman(in thePeerage of Ireland), 1686
- ^Egerton was initially declared re-elected at the election of 1710, but on petition he was found not have been duly elected and his opponent Burgh was seated instead
- ^At the election of 1713, Methuen and Egerton were initially declared elected, but there was dispute about the franchise. On petition, their seats were given to their opponents, Burgh and Watkins
References
edit- Robert Beatson,A Chronological Register of Both Houses of Parliament(London: Longman, Hurst, Res & Orme, 1807)[1]
- D Brunton & D H Pennington,Members of the Long Parliament(London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
- Cobbett's Parliamentary history of England, from the Norman Conquest in 1066 to the year 1803(London: Thomas Hansard, 1808)[2]
- J Holladay Philbin,Parliamentary Representation 1832 – England and Wales(New Haven: Yale University Press, 1965)
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 4)