The 1841 East Surrey by-election was polled on 12 February 1841. It was fought due to the death of the incumbent Conservative MP Richard Alsager.
Nominations The 9 February public hearing of nominations or hustings, chaired by the under-Sheriff, Mr Abbot, duly took place the day after paper submissions closed, at the Fairfield, Croydon. The ground was "pretty well occupied" by over 2000 supporters by 11a.m., the start time. Hustings were erected and wagons of respective supporters drew up on the straw-laid ground; with pale blue and white widespread for Alcock and orange and purple displayed for Antrobus, beyond their carriages and among their musicians.
+ Candidates for East SurreyCandidateParty he would sit withResidence(s)Proposer 1Proposer 2Flag inscriptions at nomination (among others)Stated positionsEdmund AntrobusThe Morning Chronicle (London, England), Tuesday, 9 February 1841; Issue 22217. British Library Newspapers, Part I: 1800-1900.ConservativeAntrobus Hall, Cheshire andAmesbury Abbey, WiltshireA.K. BarclaySamuel PaynterChurch and StateChurch and QueenUnited for our Queen and CountryDefender of the Corn Laws (duties on imports)Church-provided, local educationAgainst the popular ballotThomas AlcockWhigs and LiberalsRingwood Lodge CourtneySir E. ColebrookVictoria the People's QueenLiberty and IndependenceRepeal of the bread taxAgainst the Corn LawsNational, independent educationFor the popular ballot
The Morning Chronicle'''s reporter wrote he believed Lord Leveson intended to nominate Alcock but he arrived after the meeting, and covered the third spoken speech in support of Alcock, by a Mr Coates. It concluded a show of hands took place, taken to have fallen to Mr Alcock but a poll was, as was habitual, demanded for a week's time. Antrobus ultimately won, by 2,652 to 1,438 votes.The Morning Post (London, England), Saturday, 13 February 1841; pg. 5; Issue 21866. British Library Newspapers, Part II: 1800-1900.
The Morning Post ran a report titled "East Surrey Election [new line] Triumph of Conservatism" acerbic of the "present ministers", describing the stated party of Alcock as Liberal 'misnamed' and him as a "Whig-Radical". It adds 200 of most Conservative-leaning electors met together at The Horns'', chaired by W. Nottidge who toasted the new member's health. There were in that inn cheers to many comments of Antrobus including "by the majority by which the election of East Surrey had been won, the Government had been taught a lesson they would not easily forget".
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