List of MPs elected in the 1727 British general election facts for kids

The 1727 British general election was an important event in the history of Great Britain. It was when people voted for their representatives to join the Parliament of Great Britain. This Parliament was the main law-making body for the country at the time.

The election took place over a few months, from August to October 1727. After the votes were counted, 558 people were chosen to be Members of Parliament (MPs). These MPs represented 314 different areas, called constituencies, across Great Britain. This group of MPs formed the 7th Parliament of Great Britain.

What is a Member of Parliament?

A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a person chosen by voters to represent them in the Parliament. Their job is to speak for the people in their area and help make laws for the whole country. In 1727, only certain people could vote, usually men who owned a certain amount of land.

How Parliament Worked in 1727

The Parliament of Great Britain had two main parts:

• The House of Lords, where noble families and bishops sat.
• The House of Commons, where the elected MPs sat.

The MPs in the House of Commons were very important because they had a say in how the country was run. They debated new laws, decided on taxes, and discussed important issues.

Political Parties of the Time

In 1727, the two main political groups were the Whigs and the Tories.

• Whigs: Generally supported the King and a strong Parliament. Many were wealthy landowners and merchants.
• Tories: Often supported the power of the King and the traditional Church of England. They tended to be more conservative.

The election results showed which party had more support across the country.

Changes During Parliament's Term

Sometimes, an MP might leave their seat before the next general election. This could happen for several reasons:

• Died: The MP passed away.
• Raised to Peerage: The MP became a peer (a noble) and moved to the House of Lords.
• Took Office: The MP took a new government job that meant they couldn't be an MP anymore.
• Sat for Another Seat: An MP might have been elected in more than one area and had to choose which one to represent.
• Expelled or Unseated: Sometimes, an MP was removed from their seat, for example, if there were problems with their election.

When a seat became empty, a special election called a by-election was held to choose a new MP for that area. This ensured that every constituency always had a representative in Parliament.

Examples of MP Changes

Here are a few examples of how MPs changed during the 7th Parliament:

• In Aberdeenshire, Sir Archibald Grant was replaced by Sir Arthur Forbes in 1732.
• In Aldeburgh, William Windham died and was replaced by Sir John Williams in 1730.
• In Amersham, Montague Garrard Drake died and was replaced by Marmaduke Alington in 1728.
• In Banbury, Francis North became a peer and was replaced by Toby Chauncy in 1730, who then died and was replaced by Viscount Wallingford in 1733.
• In Bedford, John Thurlow Brace was unseated, and James Metcalfe took his place in 1728. When Metcalfe died, Sir Jeremy Sambrooke became the MP in 1731.
• In Chester, Sir Thomas Grosvenor died and was replaced by Sir Charles Bunbury in 1733.
• In Durham (City of), Robert Shafto died and was replaced by John Shafto in 1730.
• In Exeter, Samuel Molyneux was replaced by John Belfield in 1728.
• In Lostwithiel, Darell Trelawny died and was replaced by Sir Edward Knatchbull in 1728, who then died and was replaced by Edward Walpole in 1730.
• In Nottinghamshire, The Viscount Howe resigned and was replaced by William Levinz in 1732. Sir Robert Sutton was expelled and replaced by Thomas Bennett in 1732.
• In Orkney and Shetland, George Douglas became a peer and was replaced by Robert Douglas in 1730.
• In Oxford University, William Bromley died and was replaced by Viscount Cornbury in 1732.
• In Pontefract, Sir William Lowther (1st Baronet) died and was replaced by Sir William Lowther (2nd Baronet) in 1729. John Lowther also died and was replaced by John Mordaunt in 1730.
• In Queenborough, Sprig Manesty died and was replaced by Richard Evans in 1729. John Crowley died and was replaced by George Saunders in 1728.
• In Rutland, Lord Finch became a peer and was replaced by William Burton in 1730. John Noel died and was replaced by Thomas Noel in 1728.
• In St Albans, Caleb Lomax died and was replaced by Thomas Gape in 1730, who then died and was replaced by John Merrill in 1733.
• In St Germans, Sir Gilbert Heathcote died and was replaced by Dudley Ryder in 1733. Sidney Godolphin died and was replaced by Richard Eliot in 1733.
• In Scarborough, John Hungerford died and was replaced by William Thompson.
• In Selkirkshire, John Pringle took office and was replaced by James Rutherford in 1730.
• In Suffolk, Sir William Barker died and was replaced by Sir Robert Kemp in 1732.
• In Sussex, Spencer Compton became a peer and was replaced by James Butler in 1728.
• In Sutherland, Lord Strathnaver became a peer and was replaced by Sir James Fergusson in 1734.
• In Tregony, Thomas Smith died and was replaced by Matthew Ducie Moreton in 1729.
• In Wareham, Sir Edward Ernle died and was replaced by Thomas Tower in 1729. Joseph Gascoigne died and was replaced by Nathaniel Gould in 1729.
• In Warwickshire, William Peyto died and was replaced by Sir Charles Mordaunt in 1734.
• In Wells, Edward Prideaux Gwyn was replaced by William Piers in 1729.
• In Weobley, John Birch was expelled and replaced by James Cornewall in 1732.
• In West Looe, Edward Trelawny resigned and was replaced by Thomas Walker in 1733.
• In Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, William Betts' election was void, and he was replaced by George Dodington in 1730.
• In Wiltshire, Sir James Long died and was replaced by John Howe in 1729.
• In Winchester, Lord William Powlett died and was replaced by Norton Powlett in 1730.
• In Yarmouth (Isle of Wight), Maurice Morgan died and was replaced by Maurice Bocland in 1733.
• In Yorkshire, Sir Thomas Watson Wentworth became a peer and was replaced by Sir George Savile in 1728.

See also

• 1727 British general election
• List of parliaments of Great Britain
• Unreformed House of Commons