List of members of the House of Commons at Westminster 1705–1708 facts for kids

This article is about the people who were members of the House of Commons in the British Parliament between 1705 and 1708. The House of Commons is a very important part of the UK Parliament, where elected representatives make laws for the country. During this time, the Parliament changed significantly due to the Acts of Union 1707, which joined England and Scotland to form Great Britain.

What Was Parliament Like Back Then?

At the start of the 1700s, the House of Commons in England had 513 members. These members represented different areas across England and Wales.

• Most areas, called counties and boroughs, sent two members to Parliament.
• A few larger areas, like London, sent more.
• Some smaller boroughs and the two famous universities, Oxford and Cambridge, sent one or two members.

These members were chosen in an election held in May and June 1705.

The Big Change: Great Britain is Formed

A huge change happened in 1707 with the Acts of Union 1707. This was when the separate kingdoms of England and Scotland officially joined together to create the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Because of this union, the Parliament of England became the first Parliament of Great Britain. This meant that new members from Scotland joined the House of Commons in November 1707. Thirty members came from Scottish counties and fifteen from Scottish towns. This brought the total number of Members of Parliament (MPs) to 558.

This Parliament continued until April 15, 1708, when it was dissolved. This led to the very first general election for the new Parliament of Great Britain.

Who Were the Members of Parliament?

The list of members from this time is very long and detailed! It shows who represented each area and when they were elected. Sometimes, a member might leave Parliament before the next election. This could happen for several reasons:

• They might pass away.
• They might be given a new job that meant they couldn't be an MP anymore.
• Their election might have been found to be unfair, leading to a new election for that spot.
• After the Act of Union, some Scottish members who were also nobles (called "peers") were no longer allowed to sit in the House of Commons.

For example, Sir Philip Monoux, 3rd Baronet, who represented Bedford, passed away in November 1707, and William Hillersden was elected to take his place. Another example is Robert Dormer (1650–1726), who represented Buckinghamshire. He was appointed a judge in February 1706, so he had to leave Parliament.

The table below shows a small part of the full list, giving you an idea of how these records were kept. It includes the member's name, when they were elected, the area they represented (their constituency), and any important notes about their time in Parliament.

See also

1705 English general election