City of London (Parliament of England constituency)

The City of London was a parliamentary constituency of the Parliament of England until 1707.

Boundaries and history to 1707 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

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 ParliamentAldermanic MPs by year1298Adam le Blund de Fulham; Walter de Finchingfeld1299William de Leyre; William de Betoyne1300Geoffrey de Northampton; William de Betoyne1305William de Combemartyn; Walter de Finchingfeld1307William de Combemartyn; Henry de Durham1309Henry de Durham; William Servat1312John de Wengrave; Robert de Kelesye; Nicholas de Farndone1313William Servat; Stephen de Abyndon; Nicholas de Farndone; William de Leyre1314John de Gisors; Robert de Kelesye; William de Leyre1315Henry de Durham; William de Leyre1316William de Combemartyn; William Trente; John de la Chambre; Hamo de Chigwell; Robert de Kelesye; Simon de Abyndon; Roger de Palmer; John de Bureford1318John de Cherleton; Roger de Palmer1319William de Leyre; William de Flete1320Anketin de Gisors; Nicholas de Farndone1321Hamo de Godchep; Nicholas de Farndone1322 (May)Robert de Swalclyve; Reginald de Conduit; William de Hakford; Gregory de Norton1322 (Nov)Thomas de Chetyngdone; Walter Crepyn1324Anketin de Gisors; Henry de Seccheford1325Anketin de Gisors; Henry de Seccheford1327 (Jan)Anketin de Gisors; Henry de Seccheford; Reginald de Conduit; Thomas de Leyre1327 (Sep)Benedict de Folesham; Robert de Kelesye1328 (Feb)Richard de Betoyne; John de Grantham1328 (Apr)Richard de Betoyne; Robert de Kelesye1328 (Oct)Stephen de Abyngdon; Robert de Kelesye1330 (Mar)Stephen de Abyngdon; John de Caustone;1330 (Nov)John de Grantham; Reginald de Conduit; Stephen de Abyngdon1332Anketin de Gisors (twice); Reginald de Conduit; John de Caustone (twice); Richard de la Pole1334Reginald de Conduit; John de Caustone; Roger de Depeham1335Richard de Rothyng; Richard le Lacer; Roger de Forsham1336Henry de Seccheford; Richard de Hakeneie; John de Caustone1337Reginald de Conduit (twice); John de Caustone; Benedict de Folesham1338John de Grantham; Richard de Rothyng; Andrew Aubrey; Ralph de Uptone (twice); Bartholomew Deumars1339Somin Francis (twice); John de Northall1340Richard de Rothyng; Andrew Aubrey; Richard de Berkynge; Walter de Mordone; Simon Francis; John de Mockyng; William (Curteys) de Bricklesworth (twice)1341Simon Francis; William (Curteys) de Bricklesworth1344John de Northall; John Lovekyn1346Thomas Legge; Geoffrey de Wychingham; John Lovekyn1348Richard de Berkynge (twice); John Lovekyn (twice)1350Simon Francis; Thomas Dolseley1351Thomas Legge; William de Iford (Common Serjeant)1352Simon Francis; Adam Francis; John Little1353Thomas Dolseley; Thomas Legge1354John de Stodeye; Thomas Dolseley1355Adam Francis; John de Stodeye1357Adam Francis; John de Stodeye1358William de Welde; Thomas Dolseley1360Bartholomew de Frestlyng; Stephen Cavendisshe; Walter de Berneye1361John Pecche; Adam Francis; John Pyel1362Adam de Bury; Bartholomew de Frestlyng; John Little; John Tornegold1363William Holbech; John de St. Albans; John Tornegold1365John Lovekyn; Adam Francis; Richard de Preston1366Adam Francis; John Wroth1368Bartholomew de Frestlyng; John Wroth; John Aubrey; John Organ1369John Pecche; Adam Francis; John de Stodeye; John Tornegold; John Aubrey; John Philpot; John Hadley; Nicholas Exton1371Bartholomew de Frestlyng; John Tornegold; William Walworth; John Philpot (twice); John Pecche; John Tornegold; John Fyfhide1372John Pecche; John Wroth; William Venour1373John Warde; Adam Stable; Adam Carlisle1376William Walworth; John Pyel; Adam Carlisle1377John Organ; John Hadley; William Walworth; John Philpot; Adam Carlisle; Walter Sibyle; William Tonge; William Venour1378John Northampton; John Hadley; William Venour; Geoffrey Newton1379William More; Adam Carlisle; John Hadley; Walter Sibyle1380Robert Launde; Thomas Cornwaleys; John Philpot; John Organ; John Boseham; Thomas Welford; William Tonge; John Rote1381Hugh Fastolf; William Baret; John Philpot; John Hadley1382 (May)Hugh Fastolf?; John More; Thomas Carleton; Richard Norbury1383Nicholas Brembre; William Baret; William Walworth; John Philpot; John More; Henry Vanner; Richard Norbury1384John Hadley (twice); John Organ (twice); John Rote; Thomas Rolf1385John Hadley; Nicholas Exton; William Anecroft

1386–1421 ParliamentFirst memberSecond memberThird memberFourth member1386John HadleyJohn OrganAdam CarlisleThomas GirdlerFebruary 1388William MoreJohn ShadworthWilliam BaretJohn WalcoteSeptember 1388Adam BammeHenry VannerWilliam TongeJohn ClenhandJanuary 1390William MoreJohn ShadworthAdam CarlisleWilliam BramptonNovember 1390William More John ShadworthAdam CarlisleWilliam Brampton1391William SheringhamWilliam BramptonWilliam StandonJohn Walcote1394William StandonJohn FressheThomas ExtonJohn Wade1395Adam CarlisleDrew BarantynGeoffrey WaldernWilliam AskhamJanuary 1397William StandonWilliam Brampton William HydeHugh ShortSeptember 1397Andrew NewportDrew BarantynRobert AshcombeWilliam Chichele1399John ShadworthWilliam BramptonWilliam SunningwellRichard Marlow1402John HadleyWilliam ParkerJohn ProphetWilliam Norton1404 (Jan)William StandonDrew BarantynWilliam MarchfordJohn Prophet1404 (Oct)John WoodcockWilliam BramptonAlan EverardRobert Haxton1406William StandonNicholas WottonJohn SudburyHugh Ryebread1407William AskhamWilliam CromerWilliam MarchfordJohn Bryan1410Drew BarantynHenry HaltonJohn ReynwellWalter Gawtron1411Thomas FauconerRichard MarlowJohn SuttonJohn Mitchell1413 (Feb)William AskhamDrew BarantynWilliam MarchfordWalter Gawtron1413 (May)William AskhamDrew BarantynWilliam MarchfordWalter Gawtron1414 (Apr)Richard MarlowRobert ChicheleWilliam BurtonAlan Everard1414 (Nov)William WaldernNicholas WottonWilliam OliverJohn Gedham1415Robert ChicheleWilliam WaldernJohn ReynwellWilliam Mitchell1416 (Mar)Richard MarlowThomas FauconerWilliam WestonNicholas James1416 (Oct)Richard WhittingtonThomas KnollysJohn PerneysRobert Whittingham1417William CromerWilliam SeveoakJohn WellesJohn Butler1419Nicholas WottonHenry BartonRichard MeryvaleSimon Sewall1420Thomas FauconerJohn MitchellSolomon OxneyJohn Higham1421 (May)William WaldernWilliam CromerWilliam BurtonRichard Goslyn1421 (Dec)Thomas FauconerNicholas WottonJohn BrokleyJohn Whatley

1422–1508