List of MPs elected in the 1715 British general election facts for kids

The Parliament of Great Britain in 1715 was a very important meeting of people chosen to represent different parts of the country. These representatives were called Members of Parliament, or MPs for short. They gathered to make laws and discuss important issues for the whole country.

The election that chose these MPs happened between January 22 and March 9, 1715. This was the fifth time a Parliament had been elected for Great Britain since England and Scotland joined together in 1707.

What is an MP?

An MP is like a spokesperson for a specific area, called a constituency. Back in 1715, there were 314 constituencies across Great Britain, and they chose 558 MPs. These MPs would then go to London to sit in the House of Commons. Their job was to speak up for the people in their area and help decide how the country was run.

Political Parties in 1715

In 1715, there were two main political groups, or "parties," that MPs usually belonged to:

• Whigs: This group generally supported the King and believed in a strong Parliament.
• Tories: This group often had stronger ties to the traditional Church of England and sometimes supported the idea of a different royal family.

After the 1715 election, the Whigs became the main party in power.

Changes to MPs During Parliament

Being an MP was a big job, and sometimes things changed during the years Parliament was active.

• By-elections: If an MP died, retired, or got a new job that meant they couldn't be an MP anymore, a special mini-election called a "by-election" was held. This allowed the people in that area to choose a new representative.
• Unseated on Petition: Sometimes, after an election, people would complain that the election wasn't fair. If the complaint was successful, the MP could be "unseated," meaning they lost their place, and a new election or a different person would take their spot.
• Took Office: An MP might "take office" if they were given a special job by the King, like a minister. Sometimes this meant they had to be re-elected, or a new MP was chosen for their old seat.
• Ennobled: If an MP was given a title like a Lord or Earl, they would move from the House of Commons to the House of Lords, and their old seat would become empty.
• Expelled: Very rarely, an MP could be removed from Parliament for serious reasons, like supporting a rebellion.

This list originally contained all 558 MPs elected in 1715 and noted all these changes that happened during the Parliament's time. It's a detailed record that helps historians understand who was in power and how politics worked back then.

By-elections

• List of Great Britain by-elections (1715–34)

See also

• 1715 British general election
• List of parliaments of Great Britain
• Unreformed House of Commons