Liskeard was a parliamentary borough in Cornwall, which elected two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1832, and then one member from 1832 until 1885. The constituency was abolished by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.
History The parliamentary borough was based upon the community of Liskeard in the south-eastern part of Cornwall.
Sedgwick estimated the electorate at 30 in 1740. Namier and Brooke considered it was about 50 in the 1754–1790 period. The right of election before 1832 was in the freemen of the borough. This constituency was under the patronage of the Eliot family, which acquired the predominant interest by 1722.
There were no contested elections between at least 1715 and 1802. In the early 19th century the Whigs attempted to expand the electorate to include householders. During the 1802 general election, 48 householders claimed the right to vote but their ballots were rejected by the Mayor (see the note to the 1802 election result below). The Eliot family continued to control the borough in the Tory interest, for another thirty years.
The Reform Act 1832 augmented the freemen voters (who retained their ancient right votes), with the beneficiaries of a new householder franchise. The number of voters registered in 1832 was 218. The political effect of the change was that a Whig was elected unopposed to the one remaining seat in 1832, whereas the two Tory candidates had been elected unopposed at the previous seven general elections. Only Whig or Liberal candidates were returned from 1832 until the constituency was abolished.
The Reform Act 1867 preserved the borough constituency but slightly expanded the electorate (from 434 in 1865 to 881 in 1868). Liskeard was one of the smallest boroughs to retain individual representation in the 1868–1885 period. However the constituency was finally abolished by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, when the borough became part of the Bodmin or South East division of Cornwall.
Members of Parliament
1295–1629 Constituency created (1295)
ParliamentFirst memberSecond member 1355John Hamely 1386John Bodilly Stephen Bant 1388 (Feb) Simon Lowys John Helligan 1388 (Sep) Simon Lowys Walter Bloyowe 1390 (Jan) Simon Lowys John Cokeworthy I 1390 (Nov) 1391Robert Brewys John Goly 1393Simon Lowys Robert Combe 1394 1395Ralph Cokeworthy Ralph Trenewith II 1397 (Jan) Simon Lowys John Tregoose 1397 (Sep) John Gryk Robert Syteston 1399Walter Gosham Thomas Forster 1401 1402Simon Lowys John Price 1404 (Jan) 1404 (Oct) 1406John Treffridowe Williard Hamond 1407William Aston Thomas Gybbe 1410Simon (Lowys) John Clink (MP for Liskeard) 1411Simon Lowys John Penrose 1413 (Feb) 1413 (May) Simon Lowys Walter Lowys 1414 (Apr) 1414 (Nov) Simon Lowys William Bodrugan 1415 1416 (Mar) Oto Trenewith John Trewoofe 1416 (Oct) 1417John But Robert Treage 1419Philip Motty John Calwe 1420John Fursdon John Cork 1421 (May) Nicholas Aysshton Richard Tredinney 1421 (Dec) John Trelawny III Robert Trenerth 1510–1523 No names known 1529 James Trewynnard Henry Pyne 1536 ? 1539 ? 1542 ? 1545 John Roscarrock Richard Halfacre 1547 Robert Becket Ambrose GilberdFirst Parliament of 1553John TrelawnyJohn GayerSecond Parliament of 1553William MoriceThomas RoscarrockFirst Parliament of 1554James KempFrancis RoscarrockSecond Parliament of 1554John ConnockJohn PethbridgeParliament of 1555John CruysWilliam Lower (MP for Liskeard)Parliament of 1558William CorytonJohn GayerParliament of 1559George BromleyRenald MuschampParliament of 1563–1567Reginald MohunParliament of 1571John ConnockBasil JohnsonParliament of 1572–1581Henry MacwilliamPaul WentworthParliament of 1584–1585Peter EdgcumbeEdward DennyParliament of 1586–1587Richard EdgecumbeJonathan TrelawnyParliament of 1588–1589John JacksonParliament of 1593George WrayParliament of 1597–1598Henry NevilleEdward TrelawnyParliament of 1601Thomas EdmundsSampson LennardParliament of 1604–1611Sir William KilligrewReginald NicholasAddled Parliament (1614)Richard ConnockJohn GlanvilleParliament of 1621–1622Sir Edward CokeNicholas HeleHappy Parliament (1624–1625)William Wrey (later 2nd Wrey Baronet)Useless Parliament (1625)William CorytonParliament of 1625–1626Sir Francis StewardJoseph JaneParliament of 1628–1629 John HarrisNo Parliament summoned 1629–1640
1640–1832 YearFirst memberFirst partySecond memberSecond partyApril 1640John Harris RoyalistGeorge KekewichParliamentarianNovember 1640Joseph JaneRoyalistJanuary 1644Harris and Jane disabled from sitting – both seats vacant1647Thomas PoveyNon-partisanGeorge KekewichParliamentarianDecember 1648Povey and Kekewich excluded in Pride's Purge – both seats vacant1653Liskeard was unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament and the First and Second Parliaments of the ProtectorateJanuary 1659Thomas NoellHunt GreenwoodMay 1659Not represented in the restored RumpApril 1660 John Connock John Robinson April 1661 John Harris Peter PrideauxPrideaux was also elected for Honiton, which he chose to represent, and never sat for Liskeard May 1661 Bernard Granville 1678 Sir Bourchier Wrey February 1679 John Connock John Buller August 1679 Sir Jonathan Trelawny 1685 Chichester Wrey John Connock 1689 Sir Bourchier Wrey John Buller 1690 Emanuel Pyper 1695 William Bridges 1696 Henry Darell 1701 Thomas Dodson 1707 John Dolben 1710 Philip Rashleigh Tory 1715 Sir John Trelawny April 1722 Edward Eliot John Lansdell November 1722 Thomas Clutterbuck 1727 Sir John Cope 1734 Richard Eliot George Dennis 1740 Charles Trelawny 1747 Sir George Lee 1754 Edmund Nugent Philip Stanhope 1759 Philip Stephens 1761 Anthony Champion 1768 Edward Eliot Samuel Salt 1774 Edward Gibbon Whig 1780 Wilbraham Tollemache 1784 Edward James Eliot John Eliot Tory 1797 The Earl of Inchiquin 1800 Lord Fincastle 1802 William Eliot Tory 1804 William Huskisson Tory 1807 Viscount Hamilton Tory 1812 Charles Philip Yorke Tory 1818 Sir William Pringle Tory 1824 Lord Eliot Tory1832 Representation reduced to one Member
1832–1885 YearMemberParty 1832 Charles Buller Radical 1849 Richard Crowder Radical 1854 Ralph Grey Whig 1859 Ralph Bernal Osborne Liberal 1865 Sir Arthur Buller Liberal 1869 Edward Horsman Liberal 1876 Leonard Courtney Liberal1885 Constituency abolished
Election results
Note on sources: The information for the election results given below is taken from Sedgwick 1715–1754, Namier and Brooke 1754–1790 and Stooks Smith 1790–1832. From 1832 the principal source was Craig, with additional or different information from Stooks Smith included. Candidates classified by Craig as Liberal before 1859, are labeled as Whig or Radical (following Stooks Smith) or Liberal if their exact allegiance is uncertain. Similarly candidates classified by Craig as Conservative but by Stooks Smith as Tory are listed below as Tory.
Note on percentage change calculations: Where there was only one candidate of a party in successive elections, for the same number of seats, change is calculated on the party percentage vote. Where there was more than one candidate for a party, in one or both successive contested elections for the same number of seats, then change is calculated on the individual candidates percentage vote.
Note on party allegiance of candidates: A party label is only used when the source used quotes one. Other candidates are labelled Non Partisan, but may have associated themselves with a tendency or faction in Parliament.
Elections before 1715 Dates of Parliaments 1660–1715 SummonedElectedOpenedDismissed16 March 1660166025 April 166029 December 166018 February 166116618 May 166124 January 167925 January 167916796 March 167912 July 167924 July 16791679–168021 October 168018 January 168120 January 1681168121 March 168128 March 168114 February 1685168519 May 16852 July 168729 December 16881688–168922 January 16896 February 16906 February 1690169020 March 169011 October 169512 October 1695169522 November 16956 July 169813 July 1698169824 August 169819 December 170026 December 17001700–17016 February 170111 November 17013 November 1701170130 December 17012 July 17022 July 1702170220 August 17025 April 170517057 May – 6 June 170514 June 1705see Note1707see Note23 October 17073 April 1708170830 April – 7 July 17088 July 170821 September 171017102 October – 16 November 171025 November 17108 August 1713171322 August – 12 November 171312 November 171315 January 1715
Note:- The MPs of the Parliament of England (elected 1705) and 45 members co-opted from the former Parliament of Scotland, became the House of Commons of the 1st Parliament of Great Britain in 1707.
Index to Election results 1715–1799
1710s – 1720s – 1730s – 1740s – 1750s – 1760s – 1770s – 1780s – 1790s
Index to Election results 1800–1885
1800s – 1810s – 1820s – 1830s – 1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s
Elections in the 1710s
Elections in the 1720s Trelawny became a Baronet in 1721
Death of Eliot
Elections in the 1730s Seat vacated on Clutterbuck being appointed a Lord of the Admiralty
Death of Dennis
Elections in the 1740s
Elections in the 1750s Seat vacated on the appointment of Trelawny as Assay-Master of Tin for the Duchy of Cornwall
Seat vacated on the appointment of Nugent to an office
Elections in the 1760s
Elections in the 1770s
Seat vacated on the appointment of Gibbon to an office
Elections in the 1780s
Seat vacated on the appointment of E.J. Eliot as Remembrancer of the Court of Exchequer
Elections in the 1790s
Seat vacated on the appointment of E.J. Eliot as a Commissioner for India
Death of E.J. Eliot
Inchiquin was a peer of Ireland
Elections in the 1800s Resignation of Inchiquin
Note (1800): Stooks Smith recorded that William Huskisson was returned unopposed at this by-election, but this appears to be an error.
Note (1802): 48 householders claimed the right to vote. The ballots they tendered were rejected by the Mayor. 44 wanted to vote for Sheridan and Ogilvie, 3 for the Eliots and 1 for John Eliot and Sheridan. Succession of John Eliot as the 2nd Lord Eliot
Note (1806): Stooks Smith does not give the votes for the elected candidates.
Elections in the 1810s
Elections in the 1820s
Elections in the 1830s
Electorate expanded and constituency reduced to one seat, by the Reform Act 1832
Note (1835): Stooks Smith recorded 211 registered electors, but the turnout is calculated on Craig's figure above
Note (1837): Stooks Smith recorded 250 registered electors, but the turnout is calculated on Craig's figure above
Elections in the 1840s
Note (1841): Stooks Smith recorded 285 registered electors, but the turnout is calculated on Craig's figure above Seat vacated on the appointment of Buller as Judge-Advocate General
Note (1847): Stooks Smith recorded 333 registered electors, but the turnout is calculated on Craig's figure above Seat vacated on the appointment of Buller as President of the Poor Law Board
Death of Buller
Elections in the 1850s
Seat vacated on the appointment of Crowder as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
The Whig Party is regarded as having merged into a new Liberal Party, which was formed at a meeting of the supporters of Lord Palmerston on 6 July 1859; although Whigs and Radicals had been informally referred to collectively as Liberals for decades. Seat vacated on the appointment of Grey as a Collector of Customs
Elections in the 1860s Resignation of Osborne
Electorate expanded by the Reform Act 1867
Death of Buller
Elections in the 1870s
Death of Horsman
Elections in the 1880s
Electorate expanded by the Representation of the People Act 1884, but the constituency was abolished by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 with effect from the 1885 United Kingdom general election.
Notes and references
Notes
References
Sources
The History of Parliament Trust, Lostwithiel, Borough from 1386 to 1868 D Brunton & D H Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)