City of London (Parliament of England constituency)
City of London | |
---|---|
Former borough constituency for the House of Commons | |
1298–1950 |
The City of London was a parliamentary constituency of the Parliament of England until 1707.
Boundaries and history to 1707
[edit]This borough constituency consisted of the City of London, which was the historic core of the modern Greater London. In the twenty-first century, the City forms part of the London Region of England.
The southern boundary of the city is the north bank of the River Thames. The City of Westminster is situated to the west. The districts of Holborn and Finsbury are to the north, Shoreditch to the north-east and Whitechapel to the east.
Before 1298, the area was represented as part of the county constituency of Middlesex. The City formed part of the geographic county, even though from early times it was not administered as part of Middlesex.
London is first known to have been enfranchised and represented in Parliament in 1298. It was the most important city in England and was administered as a county of itself from before boroughs were first represented in Parliament. It received four seats in Parliament instead of the normal two for an English constituency. The extra two seats (whose holders were known as knights, like the representatives of a county) were supposed to represent the county-like status of London. No such extra seats were awarded to other cities or boroughs which received the status of being counties of themselves in later times.
By the sixteenth century it was the practice for the Court of Aldermen to summon a meeting at the Guildhall. The aldermen met and selected two candidates to sit as the city's knights in Parliament. One was normally an alderman (probably a former Lord Mayor of London). The other was normally the Recorder of London, whose legal expertise was essential to the City which had a lot of legislation it wanted drafted and passed by Parliament. On one occasion in the sixteenth century the Recorder was already a burgess representing another borough in Parliament, so two aldermen were chosen.
The aldermen also prepared a list of twelve prominent Londoners, who were not themselves aldermen. The nominees for knight were then put to the liverymen, who had been waiting whilst the aldermen met, for approval and an election was held to select two citizens from the list of twelve nominees to fill the other two seats in the House of Commons. The London election thus took place in a single day.
If the Recorder resigned during a Parliament or a citizen was elected an alderman, he was disqualified and the new Recorder or another citizen (as the case might require) was elected.
At some point after 1603 the City adopted a more normal system for nominations and elections. The two London Sheriffs appointed a day for candidates nominations to be submitted, at a meeting in the Guildhall. If there were more than four candidates a poll was held at a later date which usually extended for several weeks. Although it was no longer a legal requirement, there was a custom that two City seats were filled by Aldermen and two by non-Aldermen.
During the Protectorate the city was allocated six seats in the House of Commons, under the terms of the Instrument of Government adopted on 15 December 1653. However, by the time the Third Protectorate Parliament assembled in 1659 the constituency had reverted to its traditional four seats.
The City of London was a densely populated area in the period up to 1707. The composition of the City electorate was not as democratic as that of some other borough constituencies, such as neighbouring Westminster. The right of election was held by members of the livery companies. However, the size and wealth of the community meant that it had more voters than most other borough constituencies. Only Westminster had a larger borough electorate. Duke Henning estimated the City liverymen at about 4,000 in 1661 and about 6,000 by 1680.
Members of the House of Commons
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Some of the members elected during this period have been identified. The Roman numerals in brackets, following some names, are those used to distinguish different politicians of the same name in 'The House of Commons' 1509-1558 and 1558–1603. As there are considerable gaps between some of the parliaments in this period, each members career is sub-divided by parliament in the tables, even if he served in successive parliaments.
The elected date is for the City constituency. When an exact general election date is unavailable, the year or years between the dates of the parliament being summoned and assembling, are used.
1298–1385
[edit]1386–1421
[edit]1422–1508
[edit]Parliaments of King Henry VIII of England
[edit]No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 17 October 1509 | 1509/10 | 21 January 1510 | 23 February 1510 |
2nd | 28 November 1511 | 1511/12 | 4 February 1512 | 4 March 1514 |
3rd | 23 November 1514 | 1514/15 | 5 February 1515 | 22 December 1515 |
4th | ... | ?1523 | 15 April 1523 | 13 August 1523 |
5th | 9 August 1529 | 1529 | 3 November 1529 | 14 April 1536 |
6th | 27 April 1536 | 1536 | 8 June 1536 | 18 July 1536 |
7th | 1 March 1539 | 1539 | 28 April 1539 | 24 July 1540 |
8th | 23 November 1541 | 1541/42 | 16 January 1542 | 28 March 1544 |
9th | 1 December 1544 | 19 January 1545 | 23 November 1545 | 31 January 1547 |
Notes:
- ^ More was elected at a by-election, held on an unknown date in 1510, before the Parliament assembled. He replaced James Yarford, who was disqualified from serving as a Citizen in Parliament when he was elected an Alderman of the City (see explanation above about who was eligible for which of the seats).
- ^ Calley ceased to be an MP on 6 September 1515. It is unknown who replaced him.
- ^ Hewster was also known by the alias of John Brampton.
- ^ Seymour resigned his seat, because of ill health, in December 1535. It is unknown who replaced him.
- ^ Baker was disqualified upon his resignation as Recorder of London. Sir Roger Cholmley known as Sir Roger Cholmeley was appointed Recorder on 17 June 1534 and by April 1536 he had been elected to Parliament at a by-election.
- ^ Petyt died and was replaced by William Bowyer. The by-election was held by 18 February 1533.
- ^ Bowyer was disqualified upon election as an Alderman. Robert Pakington was elected to fill the vacancy, at a by-election on 27 October 1534.
- ^ Cholmley is known to have been a member of this parliament as he is mentioned in the parliamentary records. His colleagues are unknown however.
- ^ Fermor has been inferred to have been the member, but this is not fully confirmed so the relevant volume of the House of Commons prefixed the name with a question mark.
- ^ Gresham was elected at a by-election. Sir William Roche had originally been re-elected, but in January 1545 the King ordered that he be replaced. Sir William Forman was elected at a by-election in February 1545, but due to ill-health he was replaced by Gresham.
- ^ Broke was elected at a by-election on 17 November 1545, following Sir Roger Cholmeley (who was originally elected) becoming disqualified when he resigned as Recorder of London on his appointment to the senior judicial office of Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer.
Parliaments of King Edward VI of England
[edit]No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 2 August 1547 | 1547 | 4 November 1547 | 15 April 1552 |
2nd | 5 January 1553 | 1553 | 1 March 1553 | 31 March 1553 |
No | Elected | 1st member | 2nd member | 3rd member | 4th member |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 1547 | Sir Martin Bowes | Robert Broke | Thomas Curteys[a] | Thomas Bacon |
4 March 1552 | John Blundell | ||||
2nd | 1553 | Sir Martin Bowes | Robert Broke | John Marshe | John Blundell |
Note:-
- ^ Curteys was disqualified from continuing to serve as a Citizen in Parliament, upon his election as an Alderman. John Blundell was elected to fill the vacancy at a by-election on 4 March 1552.
Parliaments of Queen Mary I of England
[edit]No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 14 August 1553 | 1553 | 5 October 1553 | 5 December 1553 |
2nd | 17 February 1554 | 1554 | 2 April 1554 | 3 May 1554 |
3rd | 3 October 1554 | 1554 | 12 November 1554 | 16 January 1555 |
4th | 3 September 1555 | 1555 | 21 October 1555 | 9 December 1555 |
5th | 6 December 1557 | 1557/58 | 20 January 1558 | 17 November 1558 |
No | Elected | 1st member | 2nd member | 3rd member | 4th member |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 1553 | Sir Rowland Hill | Robert Broke | John Marshe | John Blundell |
2nd | 1554 | Sir Martin Bowes | Robert Broke | John Marshe | John Blundell |
3rd | 1554 | Sir Martin Bowes | Ralph Cholmley | Richard Grafton | Richard Burnell |
4th | 1555 | Sir Martin Bowes | Ralph Cholmley | Philip Bold | Nicholas Chowne |
5th | 1558 | Sir William Garrard | Ralph Cholmley | John Marshe | Richard Grafton |
Parliaments of Queen Elizabeth I of England
[edit]No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 5 December 1558 | 9 January 1559 | 23 January 1559 | 8 May 1559 |
2nd | 10 November 1562 | December 1562 | 11 January 1563 | 2 January 1567 |
3rd | ... | March 1571 | 2 April 1571 | 29 May 1571 |
4th | 28 March 1572 | April 1572 | 8 May 1572 | 19 April 1583 |
5th | 12 October 1584 | 22 October 1584 | 23 November 1584 | 14 September 1585 |
6th | 15 September 1586 | 3 October 1586 | 15 October 1586 | 23 March 1587 |
7th | 18 September 1588 | 1 October 1588 | 4 February 1589 | 29 March 1589 |
8th | 4 January 1593 | 27 November 1592 | 18 February 1593 | 10 April 1593 |
9th | 23 August 1597 | 3 or 4 October 1597 | 24 October 1597 | 9 February 1598 |
10th | 11 September 1601 | 6 October 1601 | 27 October 1601 | 19 December 1601 |
No | Elected | 1st member | 2nd member | 3rd member | 4th member |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 9 January 1559 | Sir Martin Bowes | Ralph Cholmley | John Marshe | Richard Hills |
2nd | December 1562 | Sir Martin Bowes | Ralph Cholmley[a] | Lawrence Withers | John Marshe |
October 1566 | Sir John White | ||||
3rd | March 1571 | Sir John White | Thomas Wilbraham | John Marshe | Thomas Norton |
4th | April 1572 | Sir Rowland Hayward | William Fleetwood | John Marshe[b] | Thomas Norton |
7 October 1579 | Thomas Aldersey | ||||
5th | 22 October 1584 | Sir Nicholas Woodrofe | William Fleetwood | Thomas Aldersey | Walter Fish[c] |
September 1585 | Henry Billingsley | ||||
6th | 3 October 1586 | Sir Edward Osborne | William Fleetwood | Thomas Aldersey | Richard Saltonstall |
7th | 1 October 1588 | Sir George Barne | William Fleetwood | Thomas Aldersey | Andrew Palmer |
8th | 27 November 1592 | Sir John Hart | Edward Drew | Andrew Palmer | George Southerton |
9th | 3 or 4 October 1597 | Sir John Hart | John Croke [III] | George Southerton | Thomas Fettiplace |
10th | 6 October 1601 | Sir Stephen Soame | John Croke [III] | Thomas Fettiplace | John Pynder |
Notes:-
- ^ Cholmley died on 25 April 1563. Sir John White was elected to fill the vacancy at a by-election in October 1566.
- ^ Marshe died and Thomas Aldersey was elected to fill the vacancy at a by-election on 7 October 1579.
- ^ Fish died and Henry Billingsley was elected to fill the vacancy at a by-election in September 1585.
Parliaments of King James I of England
[edit]No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 31 January 1604 | 1604 | 19 March 1604 | 9 February 1611 |
2nd | ... | ?1614 | 5 April 1614 | 7 June 1614 |
3rd | 13 November 1620 | 1620/21 | 16 January 1621 | 8 February 1622 |
4th | 20 December 1623 | 1623/24 | 12 February 1624 | 27 March 1625 |
No. | Elected | 1st member | 2nd member | 3rd member | 4th member |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 1604 | Nicholas Fuller | Sir Henry Montague | Sir Henry Billingsley | Richard Gore |
2nd | 1614 | Nicholas Fuller | Sir Henry Montague | Robert Myddelton | Sir Thomas Lowe |
3rd | 1621 | William Towerson | Robert Heath | Robert Bateman | Sir Thomas Lowe |
4th | 1624 | Sir Thomas Middleton | Heneage Finch | Robert Bateman | Martin Bond |
Parliaments of King Charles I of England
[edit]No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 2 April 1625 | 1625 | 17 May 1625 | 12 August 1625 |
2nd | 20 December 1625 | 1625/26 | 6 February 1626 | 15 June 1626 |
3rd | 31 January 1628 | 1628 | 17 March 1628 | 10 March 1629 |
4th | 20 February 1640 | 1640 | 13 April 1640 | 5 May 1640 |
5th | 24 September 1640 | 1640 | 3 November 1640 | 16 March 1660 |
No. | Elected | 1st member | 2nd member | 3rd member | 4th member |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 1625 | Sir Thomas Middleton | Heneage Finch | Robert Bateman | Martin Bond |
2nd | 1626 | Sir Thomas Middleton | Heneage Finch | Sir Robert Bateman | Sir Maurice Abbot |
3rd | 1628 | Thomas Moulson | Christopher Clitherow | Henry Waller | James Bunce |
4th | 1640 | Thomas Soame | Isaac Pennington | Samuel Vassall | Matthew Cradock |
5th | 1640 | Sir Thomas Soame (excluded 1648) | Isaac Pennington | Samuel Vassall (excluded 1648) | Matthew Cradock (died 1641) John Venn (died 1650) |
Parliaments of the Commonwealth
[edit]The Long Parliament or the selection of members from it known as the Rump Parliament functioned de facto during part of the Commonwealth of England period. It existed (in a sense) de jure 1640–1660, as under a pre-English Civil War law, the Long Parliament could not be lawfully dissolved without its own consent which it did not give until 1660. As it was a parliament originally summoned by King Charles I, the overall dates of the Long Parliament are given in the previous section.
The Barebones Parliament was an appointed body, so the city was not an electoral constituency represented as such in it. That body was summoned on 20 June 1653, first met on 4 July 1653 and was dissolved on 12 December 1653.
Year | 1st member | 2nd member | 3rd member | 4th member | 5th member | 6th member | 7th member |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1653 | Robert Tichborne | John Ireton | Samuel Moyer | John Stone | Henry Barton | John Langley | Praise-God Barebone |
Parliaments of the Protectorate
[edit]During the Protectorate the city was allocated six representatives in the First and the Second Protectorate Parliaments, before reverting to four for the Third Protectorate Parliament.
No. | Summoned | Elected | Assembled | Dissolved |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 1 June 1654 | 1654 | 3 September 1654 | 22 January 1655 |
2nd | 10 July 1656 | 1656 | 17 September 1656 | 4 February 1658 |
3rd | 9 December 1658 | 1658/59 | 27 January 1659 | 22 April 1659 |
Year | 1st member | 2nd member | 3rd member | 4th member | 5th member | 6th member |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1654 | Thomas Adams | Thomas Foote | William Steele | John Langham | Samuel Avery | Andrew Riccard |
1656 | Thomas Adams | Theophilus Biddulph | Richard Browne | Thomas Foote | Sir Christopher Pack | John Jones |
1659 | Theophilus Biddulph | Richard Browne | William Thompson | John Jones |
Knights and Citizens serving 1660–1707
[edit]Key to parties: T Tory; W Whig.
From | To | Name | Born | Died |
---|---|---|---|---|
1660 | 1660 | William Wilde | c. 1611 | 23 November 1679 |
1660 | 1660 | Richard Browne | c. 1610 | 24 September 1669 |
1660 | 1660 | John Robinson | 10 January 1615 | February 1680 |
1660 | 1660 | William Vincent | c. 1615 | 1661 |
1661 | 1662 | John Fowke | c. 1596 | 22 April 1662 |
1661 | 1679 | Sir William Thompson | 10 April 1614 | c. April 1681 |
1661 | 1681 | William Love | c. 1620 | 1 May 1689 |
1661 | 1679 | John Jones | c. 1610 | 21 May 1692 |
1663 | 1679 | Sir John Frederick | 25 October 1601 | 19 March 1685 |
1679 | 1681 | Sir Robert Clayton | 29 September 1629 | 16 July 1707 |
1679 | 1681 | Sir Thomas Player | ... | 14 June 1686 |
1679 | 1681 | Thomas Pilkington | 30 March 1628 | 16 November 1691 |
1685 | 1687 | Sir John Moore | 11 June 1620 | 2 June 1702 |
1685 | 1687 | Sir William Prichard | c. 1632 | 18 February 1705 |
1685 | 1687 | Sir Samuel Dashwood | c. 1643 | 12 August 1705 |
1685 | 1687 | Sir Peter Rich | c. 1630 | 26 August 1692 |
1689 | 1690 | Sir Patience Ward | 7 December 1629 | 10 July 1696 |
1689 | 1690 | Sir Robert Clayton | 29 September 1629 | 16 July 1707 |
1689 | 1689 | William Love | c. 1620 | 1 May 1689 |
1689 | 1690 | Thomas Pilkington | 30 March 1628 | 16 November 1691 |
1689 | 1690 | Sir William Ashhurst | 26 April 1647 | 12 January 1720 |
1690 | 1695 | Sir William Prichard | c. 1632 | 18 February 1705 |
1690 | 1695 | Sir Samuel Dashwood | c. 1643 | 12 August 1705 |
1690 | 1693 | Sir William Turner | 12 September 1615 | 9 February 1693 |
1690 | 1695 | Sir Thomas Vernon | 10 December 1631 | 10 February 1711 |
1693 | 1701 | Sir John Fleet | 18 March 1648 | 6 July 1712 |
1695 | 1698 | Sir Robert Clayton | 29 September 1629 | 16 July 1707 |
1695 | 1702 | Sir William Ashhurst | 26 April 1647 | 12 January 1720 |
1695 | 1701 | Thomas Papillon | 6 September 1623 | 5 May 1702 |
1698 | 1701 | Sir James Houblon | 26 July 1629 | October 1700 |
1701 | 1702 | Sir Robert Clayton | 29 September 1629 | 16 July 1707 |
1701 | 1701 | Sir William Withers (T) | c. 1654 | 31 January 1721 |
1701 | 1701 | Gilbert Heathcote[a] | 2 January 1652 | 25 January 1733 |
1701 | 1701 | Sir John Fleet | 18 March 1648 | 6 July 1712 |
1701 | 1702 | Sir Thomas Abney | January 1640 | 6 February 1722 |
1701 | 1707[b] | Sir Gilbert Heathcote | 2 January 1652 | 25 January 1733 |
1702 | 1705 | Sir William Prichard | c. 1632 | 18 February 1705 |
1702 | 1705 | Sir John Fleet | 18 March 1648 | 6 July 1712 |
1702 | 1705 | Sir Francis Child | 14 December 1642 | 4 October 1713 |
1705 | 1707[b] | Sir Robert Clayton | 29 September 1629 | 16 July 1707 |
1705 | 1707[b] | Samuel Shepheard | c. 1648 | 4 January 1719 |
1705 | 1707[b] | Sir William Ashhurst | 26 April 1647 | 12 January 1720 |
Notes:-
Elections
[edit]Election dates 1660–1710
[edit]Dates of general and by-elections from 1660 (excluding some general elections at which no new MP was returned).
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Election results 1660–1690
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Partisan | William Wilde | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Richard Browne | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | John Robinson | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | William Vincent | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Partisan | John Fowke | Elected | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Sir William Thompson | Elected | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | William Love | Elected | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | John Jones | Elected | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Sir Richard Ford | Defeated | N/A | N/A |
- Death of Fowke 22 April 1662
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Partisan | Sir John Frederick | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan hold | Swing | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Partisan | Sir Robert Clayton | Elected | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Sir Thomas Player | Elected | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | William Love | Elected | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Thomas Pilkington | Elected | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Sir Joseph Sheldon | Defeated | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Partisan | Sir Robert Clayton | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Sir Thomas Player | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | William Love | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Thomas Pilkington | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Partisan | Sir John Moore | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Sir William Prichard | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Sir Samuel Dashwood | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Sir Peter Rich | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Partisan | Sir Patience Ward | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Sir Robert Clayton | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | William Love | Unopposed | N/A | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Thomas Pilkington | Unopposed | N/A | N/A |
- Death of Love 1 May 1689
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non Partisan | Sir William Ashhurst | c. 1,700 | c. 60.71 | N/A | |
Non Partisan | Sir Samuel Dashwood | c. 1,100 | c. 39.29 | N/A | |
Majority | c. 600 | c. 21.43 | N/A | ||
Non Partisan hold | Swing | N/A |
See also
[edit]- Duration of English parliaments before 1660
- Duration of English, British and United Kingdom parliaments from 1660
- List of parliaments of England
- City of London (UK Parliament constituency)
References
[edit]- ^ "Chronological list of aldermen: 1222-1300 | British History Online". british-history.ac.uk.
- ^ a b "Chronological list of aldermen: 1302-1400 | British History Online". british-history.ac.uk.
- ^ "Aldermen in Parliament | British History Online". british-history.ac.uk.
- ^ "London | History of Parliament Online". historyofparliamentonline.org.
- ^ "STANDON, William (d.1410), of Wimpole, Cambs. and London. | History of Parliament Online". historyofparliamentonline.org.
- ^ a b c d e f Members Constituencies Parliaments Surveys. "WELLES, John III (d.1442), of London". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- 'Aldermen in Parliament', The Aldermen of the City of London: Temp. Henry III – 1912 (1908), pp. 261-297. Date accessed: 14 April 2011
- The House of Commons 1509-1558, by S.T. Bindoff (Secker & Warburg 1982)
- The House of Commons 1558-1603, by P.W. Hasler (HMSO 1981)
- The House of Commons 1660-1690, by Basil Duke Henning (Secker & Warburg 1983)