List of MPs elected in the 1722 British general election facts for kids

This article is about the people who were chosen to be Members of Parliament (MPs) in the 1722 British general election. These MPs served in the 6th Parliament of Great Britain. In 1722, 558 MPs were elected from 314 different areas called constituencies across Great Britain.

This election was an important event in British history, helping to shape the country's future. The MPs elected in 1722 played a role in making laws and decisions for the nation.

What is an MP?

An MP stands for Member of Parliament. Think of them as representatives for different parts of the country. When people vote in a general election, they choose who they want to represent them in the Parliament. These MPs then go to Parliament to discuss laws, debate important issues, and make decisions for the country.

The 1722 General Election

The 1722 British general election was held to choose all the MPs for the new Parliament. Back then, elections were very different from today. Not everyone could vote, and there were often strong rivalries between different groups of people.

After the votes were counted, a list was made of all the MPs who won. Sometimes, an election result was challenged, and a special group in Parliament would decide if the election was fair. If it wasn't, the person who won might be "unseated," meaning they lost their place, and a new election (called a by-election) would be held.

Political Parties of the Time

In the 1700s, the two main political groups were the Whigs and the Tories.

• The Whigs generally supported the King and a strong Parliament. They often favoured trade and business.
• The Tories often supported the power of the King and the Church of England. They were sometimes seen as more traditional.

These parties were not as organised as modern political parties, but they represented different ideas about how the country should be run.

Changes to MPs During Parliament

Once elected, an MP usually served until the next general election. However, sometimes an MP's time in Parliament would end early. Here are some common reasons why:

• Death: If an MP died, a new election (a by-election) would be held in their constituency to choose a replacement.
• Taking Office: If an MP was given a special job in the government, they sometimes had to give up their seat and be re-elected. This was to make sure they still had the support of the people.
• Unseated on Petition: If someone believed an election was unfair, they could send a "petition" (a formal request) to Parliament. If Parliament agreed, the MP who won could be "unseated," and a new election would happen.
• Expelled: In rare cases, an MP could be removed from Parliament for serious reasons, like bad behaviour.
• Succeeded to a Peerage: If an MP inherited a title like "Lord" or "Earl," they would become a member of the House of Lords and could no longer be an MP in the House of Commons.

These changes meant that the list of MPs was always changing throughout the Parliament's term.

Notable MPs and Constituencies

The list of MPs from 1722 includes many important figures of the time. Each constituency, whether a large county or a small town, had its own story and its own political interests.

Here are some examples of MPs and the changes that happened:

• Aberdeen Burghs: William Kerr was first elected, but he was "unseated on petition." This means someone challenged his election, and Parliament decided he shouldn't be the MP. He was replaced by John Middleton in the same year. Middleton was a Whig.
• Amersham: Montague Garrard Drake was elected but chose to sit for Buckinghamshire instead. So, Thomas Chapman became the MP for Amersham in 1722. Both were Tories.
• Anglesey: The Viscount Bulkeley was the MP, but he sadly died. In 1725, Hugh Williams became the new MP.
• Appleby: Sir Richard Sandford was a Whig MP who died. He was replaced by James Lowther in 1723, who was also a Whig.
• Berwick-upon-Tweed: This constituency saw two changes. First, Grey Neville (a Whig) died and was replaced by William Kerr in 1723. Then, The Viscount Barrington was "expelled" from Parliament, meaning he was removed. Henry Grey became the new MP in 1723.
• Beverley: Sir Charles Hotham, Bt was a Whig MP. He was replaced by Sir Charles Hotham, who was also a Whig. This often happened when a father passed his seat to his son.
• Bodmin: Richard West died, and John LaRoche became the new MP in 1727.
• Boroughbridge: Conyers Darcy was elected but chose to sit for Richmond instead. So, Joseph Danvers became the MP for Boroughbridge in 1722.
• Cambridge: Sir John Hynde Cotton was elected but chose to sit for Cambridgeshire. Gilbert Affleck became the MP for Cambridge in 1722.
• Carmarthenshire: Edward Rice was "unseated on petition," and Sir Nicholas Williams became the Whig MP.
• Chipping Wycombe: This seat had a lot of changes! Charles Egerton was replaced by Viscount Milsington in 1726. But then Milsington was "unseated on petition," and Harry Waller (a Whig) took the seat in the same year.
• East Looe: John Smith (a Whig) died and was replaced by George Cholmondeley (a Whig) in 1724. The other seat saw Horatio Walpole (a Whig) sit for Great Yarmouth instead. William Lowndes took his place but then died, and Sir Henry Hoghton became the MP in 1724.
• Elgin Burghs: William Fraser was replaced by John Campbell (a Whig) in 1725. Campbell later became the Duke of Argyll.
• Helston: Sir Robert Raymond (a Tory) was replaced by Sir Clement Wearg (a Whig) in 1724. Wearg then died, and Exton Sayer became the MP in 1726.
• Huntingdonshire: Viscount Hinchingbrooke died, and John Proby became the MP in 1722.
• Kingston upon Hull: Sir William St Quintin (a Tory) died and was replaced by George Crowle in 1724.
• Launceston: Alexander Pendarves died and was replaced by John Freind in 1725. Freind was then "unseated on petition," and John Willes took the seat in 1724. Willes then "took office," meaning he got a government job, and Henry Vane became the MP in 1726.
• Liverpool: Sir Thomas Johnson (a Whig) "took office" and was replaced by Langham Booth in 1723. Booth then died, and Thomas Brereton became the MP in 1724.
• London (City of): Peter Godfrey (a Tory) was replaced by Richard Hopkins in 1724.
• Lostwithiel: Marquess of Hartington was elected but sat for Grampound instead. Sir Orlando Bridgeman became the MP in 1724. The other seat saw Lord Stanhope "take office," replaced by Henry Parsons in 1724, who also "took office." Finally, Sir William Stanhope became the MP in 1727.
• Ludgershall: John Richmond Webb died and was replaced by Anthony Cornish in 1724.
• Lymington: Lord Harry Powlett was elected but sat for Hampshire instead. Sir Gilbert Heathcote became the MP in 1722.
• Maidstone: Sir Thomas Culpeper died and was replaced by Sir Barnham Rider in 1723.
• Malmesbury: John Fermor died and was replaced by Charles Stewart in 1723.
• Malton: Sir William Strickland (a Whig) died and was replaced by Henry Finch in 1724.
• Marlborough: Earl of Hertford was elected but sat for Northumberland instead. Thomas Gibson became the MP in 1722.
• Minehead: Robert Mansel died and was replaced by Francis Whitworth in 1723.
• Morpeth: Viscount Morpeth and George Carpenter were the MPs.
• Newcastle-under-Lyme: Sir Brian Broughton died and was replaced by Sir Walter Bagot, 5th Baronet in 1724.
• Newport (Cornwall): Sir Nicholas Morice died and was replaced by Thomas Herbert in 1726. The other seat saw Sir William Pole sit for Honiton instead. John Morice became the MP in 1722.
• Newport (Isle of Wight): Earl of March was elected but sat for Chichester. Charles Cadogan took his place in 1722 but then "succeeded to a peerage," meaning he became a Lord. Sir William Willys became the MP in 1727. The other seat saw The Lord Whitworth die, and George Huxley became the MP in 1726.
• New Windsor: Earl of Burford "succeeded to a peerage" and was replaced by Lord Vere Beauclerk in 1726.
• Northumberland: Earl of Hertford was "ennobled" (became a Lord) and was replaced by William Wrightson in 1723. Wrightson was then "unseated on petition," and Ralph Jenison became the MP in 1724.
• Old Sarum: Thomas Pitt died and was replaced by George Pitt (a Whig) in 1726. The other seat saw Robert Pitt sit for Okehampton instead. George Morton Pitt took his place in 1722 but then "took office." John Pitt became the MP in 1724.
• Oxford: Sir John Walter died and was replaced by Francis Knollys in 1722.
• Pembroke Boroughs: Thomas Ferrers (a Whig) died and was replaced by William Owen in 1722.
• Perthshire: Lord James Murray was "ennobled" and replaced by David Graeme in 1724. Graeme then died, and Mungo Haldane became the MP in 1726.
• Petersfield: Edmund Miller "took office" and was replaced by Joseph Taylor in 1727. Taylor was then "unseated on petition," and Edmund Miller returned to the seat in the same year!
• Queenborough: James Littleton died and was replaced by Viscount Forbes in 1723.
• Rochester: Sir Thomas Palmer died and was replaced by Sir Thomas Colby in 1724.
• Saltash: Thomas Swanton died and was replaced by Philip Lloyd in 1723.
• Shaftesbury: Edward Nicholas died and was replaced by Stephen Fox in 1726.
• Shrewsbury: Both elected MPs, Richard Lyster and Corbet Kynaston, were "unseated on petition." They were replaced by Sir Richard Corbet and Orlando Bridgeman in 1723.
• Southwark: George Meggott died and was replaced by John Lade in 1724.
• Stafford: John Dolphin died and was replaced by Francis Elde in 1724. Elde was then "expelled" from Parliament, and The Viscount Chetwynd became the MP in 1725.
• Stamford: Brownlow Cecil "succeeded to a peerage" and was replaced by William Noel in 1722.
• Steyning: John Pepper died and was replaced by Marquess of Carnarvon in 1726. Carnarvon then died, and William Stanhope became the MP in 1727.
• Suffolk: Sir Robert Davers died and was replaced by Sir William Barker in 1722.
• Surrey: Sir Nicholas Carew died and was replaced by Thomas Scawen in 1727.
• Tamworth: Samuel Bracebridge was "unseated on petition" and replaced by Richard Swinfen in 1723. Swinfen then died, and George Compton became the MP in 1727.
• Taunton: John Trenchard (a Whig) died and was replaced by Abraham Elton (a Whig) in 1724.
• Tiverton: Thomas Bere died and was replaced by George Deane in 1726.
• Wareham: George Delaval died and was replaced by Edward Trelawny in 1724.
• Warwick: William Colemore died and was replaced by Sir William Keyt in 1722.
• Warwickshire: Robert Digby died and was replaced by Edward Digby in 1726.
• Westbury: James Bertie was elected but sat for Middlesex. Willoughby Bertie took his place but was "unseated on petition." Lord Carbery then became the MP.
• Westminster: Both elected MPs, Archibald Hutcheson and John Cotton, had their elections declared "void" (invalid). They were replaced by Charles Montagu and The Lord Carpenter in 1722.
• Weymouth and Melcombe Regis: Thomas Pearse "took office" and was replaced by Edward Tucker in 1727.
• Whitchurch: Thomas Vernon died and was replaced by Thomas Farrington in 1727.
• Winchelsea: George Bubb Dodington was elected but sat for Bridgwater. Thomas Townshend became the MP in 1722.
• Wiltshire: Robert Hyde died and was replaced by Richard Goddard in 1722.
• Yarmouth (Isle of Wight): Thomas Stanwix died and was replaced by Maurice Morgan in 1725.
• Yorkshire: Sir Arthur Kaye died and was replaced by Cholmley Turner in 1727.

This list gives you an idea of the many individuals who served in Parliament during this period and how their time in office could change.

See also

• 1722 British general election
• List of parliaments of Great Britain
• Unreformed House of Commons