THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
  CONSTITUENCIES BEGINNING WITH "B"
 
                Last updated 28/06/2009
Date   Name Born Died  Age
  BRADFORD NORTH
14 Dec 1918 Archibald Boyd Boyd-Carpenter  [kt 1926] 26 Mar 1873 27 May 1937 64
 6 Dec 1923 Walter Russell Rea,later [1935] 1st baronet
and [1937] 1st Baron Rea 18 May 1873 26 May 1948 75
29 Oct 1924 Eugene Joseph Squire Hargreaves Ramsden,
later [1938] 1st baronet and [1945] 1st
Baron Ramsden  2 Feb 1883  9 Aug 1955 72
30 May 1929 Ralph Norman Angell  [kt 1931] 26 Dec 1872  7 Oct 1967 94
27 Oct 1931 Eugene Joseph Squire Hargreaves Ramsden,
later [1938] 1st baronet and [1945] 1st
Baron Ramsden  2 Feb 1883  9 Aug 1955 72
26 Jul 1945 Muriel Edith Nichol 2 Feb 1893 c May 1983 90
23 Feb 1950 Sir William Johnson Taylor,1st baronet 23 Oct 1902 26 Jul 1972 69
15 Oct 1964 Benjamin Thomas Ford  1 Apr 1925
 9 Jun 1983 Geoffrey John Lawler 30 Oct 1954
11 Jun 1987 Charles Patrick Wall 6 May 1933 6 Aug 1990 57
8 Nov 1990 Terence Henry Rooney 11 Nov 1950
  BRADFORD SOUTH
14 Dec 1918 Francis Vernon Willey,later [1929] 2nd Baron
Barnby 29 Sep 1884 30 Apr 1982 97
15 Nov 1922 Herbert Harvey Spencer        1869 23 Feb 1926 56
29 Oct 1924 William Hirst        1873  5 May 1946 72
27 Oct 1931 Herbert Holdsworth  [kt 1944]        1890  8 Jul 1949 59
26 Jul 1945 Meredith Farrer Titterington        1886 28 Oct 1949 63
 8 Dec 1949 George Craddock 26 Feb 1897 28 Apr 1974 77
18 Jun 1970 Thomas William Torney 2 Jul 1915 21 Oct 1998 83
11 Jun 1987 George Robert Cryer 3 Dec 1934 12 Apr 1994 59
9 Jun 1994 Gerard Sutcliffe 13 May 1953
  BRADFORD WEST
28 Nov 1885 Alfred Illingworth 25 Sep 1827  2 Jan 1907 79
15 Jul 1895 Sir Ernest Francis Swan Flower 24 Aug 1865 30 Apr 1926 60
13 Jan 1906 Frederick William Jowett 31 Jan 1864  1 Feb 1944 80
   CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1918,
BUT REVIVED 1955
26 May 1955 Arthur Tiley 17 Jan 1910 5 Jun 1994 84
31 Mar 1966 Charles Norman Haseldine 25 Mar 1922 16 Oct 1998 76
18 Jun 1970 John Arbuthnot Ducane Wilkinson 23 Sep 1940
28 Feb 1974 Edward Lyons 17 May 1926
 9 Jun 1983 Maxwell Francis Madden 29 Oct 1941
1 May 1997 Marsha Singh 11 Oct 1954
  BRAINTREE
28 Feb 1974 Antony Harold Newton,later Baron Newton
of Braintree 29 Aug 1937
1 May 1997 Alan Arthur Hurst 2 Sep 1945
5 May 2005 Brooks Newmark 8 May 1958
  BRAMBER (SUSSEX)
   Apr 1660 John Byne  (to 1662) 8 Oct 1635 31 Dec 1661 26
Edward Eversfield c 1618 c 1676
28 Mar 1661 John Byne  (to 1662) 8 Oct 1635 31 Dec 1661 26
Percy Goring  (to 1679) 17 Feb 1697
John Parsons
Double return between Goring and Parsons.
Goring seated 17 May 1661
14 Jan 1662 Sir Cecil Bishopp,4th baronet c 1635 3 Jun 1705
 5 Feb 1679 Henry Goring  (to 1685) 6 Apr 1646 10 Jun 1685 39
Nicholas Eversfield c 1646 1684
29 Aug 1679 Henry Sydney,later [1694] 1st Earl of Romney c Mar 1641 8 Apr 1704 63
 8 Mar 1681 Percy Goring 17 Feb 1697
31 Mar 1685 Sir Thomas Bludworth 6 May 1660 1694 34
William Bridgeman c 1646 10 May 1699
14 Jan 1689 John Alford 1 Oct 1645 16 May 1691 45
Charles Goring c 1668 13 Jan 1713
4 Mar 1690 Nicholas Barbon  (to 1698) c 1637 Jul 1698
John Radcliffe 23 Jan 1653 1 Nov 1714 61
2 Nov 1695 William Stringer c 1659 18 Aug 1723
25 Aug 1698 Sir Henry Furnese,later [1707] 1st baronet 30 May 1658 30 Nov 1712 54
(expelled 14 Feb 1699)
William Westbrooke  (to Jan 1701) 13 Nov 1638 Feb 1703 64
24 Feb 1699 John Courthope 27 Nov 1673 12 Mar 1699 25
1 Apr 1699 John Asgill 25 Mar 1659 10 Nov 1738 79
8 Jan 1701 Thomas Stringer  [he was also returned for 9 Nov 1660 17 Sep 1706 45
Clitheroe,for which he chose to sit]
Thomas Owen  (to 1702) c 1637 by Dec 1708
18 Mar 1701 Francis Seymour Conway,later Baron
Conway  (to 1703) 28 May 1679 3 Feb 1732 52
16 Jul 1702 John Asgill  (to 1707)  [expelled 18 Dec 1707] 25 Mar 1659 10 Nov 1738 79
20 Nov 1703 John Middleton  [his election was declared 5 Oct 1671 9 Nov 1745 74
void 18 Jan 1704]
1 Feb 1704 Samuel Sambrooke,later [1711] 3rd baronet c 1677 27 Dec 1714
7 May 1705 Thomas Windsor,Viscount Windsor  (to 1709) c 1670 8 Jun 1738  
29 Dec 1707 William Shippen 30 Jul 1673 1 May 1743 69
[Both sitting members (Windsor and Shippen)
were unseated on petition in favour of William
Hale and Sir Cleave More 15 Jan 1709]
15 Jan 1709 William Hale c 1686 2 Oct 1717
Sir Cleave More,2nd baronet 5 Mar 1664 3 Mar 1730 65
4 Oct 1710 Thomas Windsor,Viscount Windsor   [he was also c 1670 8 Jun 1738  
returned for Monmouthshire,for which he
chose to sit]
Andrews Windsor  (to 1715) c 1678 c Nov 1765  
8 Dec 1710 William Shippen 30 Jul 1673 1 May 1743 69
28 Aug 1713 Francis Hawley,Baron Hawley c 1673 30 May 1743
27 Jan 1715 Sir Richard Gough  (to 1728) 10 Oct 1655  9 Feb 1728 72
Sir Thomas Style,4th baronet  [he was unseated     c 1685 11 Jan 1769
on petition in favour of Edward Minshull 1 Jun 1715]
 1 Jun 1715 Edward Minshull     c 1685  after 1722
21 Mar 1722 William Charles van Huls  after 1649 11 Jun 1722
18 Feb 1723 David Polhill        1674 15 Jun 1754 79
18 Aug 1727 Joseph Danvers,later [1746] 1st baronet 24 Dec 1686 21 Oct 1753 66
(to 1734)
 2 Mar 1728 John Gumley  [he was unseated on petition in     c 1695 by 1749
favour of James Hoste 4 Apr 1728]
 4 Apr 1728 James Hoste 15 Oct 1705 20 Aug 1744 38
23 Apr 1734 Sir Henry Gough,1st baronet  9 Mar 1709  8 Jun 1774 65
Henry Gough  (to 1751)  1 Apr 1681 13 Jul 1751 70
 4 May 1741 Thomas Archer,later Baron Archer 21 Jul 1695 19 Oct 1768 73
29 Jun 1747 Joseph Damer,later Earl of
Dorchester  (to 1754) 12 Mar 1718 12 Jan 1798 79
22 Nov 1751 Henry Pelham     c 1729  early 1803
15 Apr 1754 George Cholmondeley,styled Viscount Malpas 17 Oct 1724 15 Mar 1764 39
Nathaniel Newnham     c 1699 17 Sep 1778
25 Mar 1761 Andrew Archer,later [1768] 2nd Baron Archer 29 Jul 1736 25 Apr 1778 41
[he was also returned for Coventry,for which he
chose to sit]
William Fitzherbert  (to 1762)        1712  2 Jan 1772 59
 4 Dec 1761 Edward Turnour Garth-Turnour,Baron
Winterton [I], later [1766] 1st Earl
Winterton [I]  (to 1769)        1734 10 Aug 1788 54
 4 May 1762 George Venables-Vernon,later Baron
Vernon  9 May 1735 18 Jun 1813 78
16 Mar 1768 Charles Lowndes     c 1699 31 Mar 1783
[Both sitting members (Winterton and Lowndes)
were unseated on petition in favour of
Thomas Thoroton and Charles Ambler 14 Feb 1769]
14 Feb 1769 Thomas Thoroton  (to 1782)     c 1723  9 May 1794
Charles Ambler 19 Apr 1721 28 Feb 1794 72
 8 Oct 1774 Sir Henry Gough Calthorpe (to 1796)  1 Jan 1749 16 Mar 1798 49
 2 Feb 1782 Henry Fitzroy Stanhope 29 May 1754 20 Aug 1828 74
31 Mar 1784 Daniel Pulteney 19 Sep 1749 24 Jul 1811 61
15 Dec 1788 Robert Hobart,later Earl of
Buckinghamshire  6 May 1760  4 Feb 1816 55
19 Jun 1790 Thomas Coxhead     c 1734 24 Nov 1811
25 May 1796 Sir Charles William Rouse-Boughton,9th baronet 16 Dec 1747 26 Feb 1821 73
James Adams  (to 1802)  5 Jun 1752 14 Sep 1816 64
10 Feb 1800 John Henry Newbolt     c 1769 22 Jan 1823
 5 Jul 1802 George Manners-Sutton  1 Aug 1751 15 Feb 1804 52
Henry Jodrell  (to 1812) c 1750 11 Mar 1814
27 Feb 1804 Richard Norman     c 1757 31 Jan 1847
 4 Nov 1806 John Irving  (to 1832) c 1767 10 Nov 1845
 7 Oct 1812 William Wilberforce 24 Aug 1759 29 Jul 1833 73
8 Mar 1825 Arthur Gough-Calthorpe 1796 5 Mar 1836 39
9 Jun 1826 Frederick Gough-Calthorpe,later Baron
Calthorpe 14 Jun 1790 2 May 1868 77
30 Apr 1831 William Stratford Dugdale  1 Apr 1801 15 Sep 1871 70
 CONSTITUENCY DISENFRANCHISED 1832
  BRECON (BRECONSHIRE)
c Apr 1660 Sir Henry Williams,1st baronet     c 1635    Feb 1666
26 Apr 1661 Sir Herbert Price     c 1605  3 Feb 1678
Kingsmill Lucy
Double return. Price seated 16 May 1661
14 Feb 1678 Thomas Mansel     c 1648 13 Dec 1684
28 Feb 1679 John Jeffreys     c 1623 24 Apr 1689
Thomas Mansel     c 1648 13 Dec 1684
Double return. Jeffreys seated 1 Apr 1679
16 Apr 1685 Charles Somerset,styled Marquess of
Worcester  [he was also returned for    Dec 1660 13 Jul 1698 37
Gloucestershire,for which he chose to sit]
22 Jun 1685 John Jeffreys     c 1623 24 Apr 1689
10 Jan 1689 Thomas Morgan  7 Sep 1664 16 Dec 1700 36
6 Mar 1690 Jeffrey Jeffreys c 1652 25 Oct 1709
25 Jul 1698 Thomas Morgan  7 Sep 1664 16 Dec 1700 36
17 Jan 1701 Sir Jeffrey Jeffreys c 1652 25 Oct 1709
28 Nov 1709 Edward Jeffreys 1680 15 Jul 1740 60
11 Sep 1713 Roger Jones     c 1691        1741
29 Mar 1722 William Morgan   [he was also returned for  8 Mar 1701 24 Apr 1731 30
Monmouthshire,for which he chose to sit]
24 May 1723 Thomas Morgan 20 May 1702 12 Apr 1769 66
 1 May 1734 John Talbot     c 1712 23 Sep 1756
15 Apr 1754 Thomas Morgan  8 Jun 1727 15 May 1771 43
 5 Dec 1763 Charles Morgan  1 Dec 1736 24 May 1787 50
15 May 1769 John Morgan 18 Feb 1742 27 Jun 1792 50
31 Jan 1772 Charles Van  3 Apr 1778
23 Apr 1778 Charles Gould (Morgan from 1792) later
[1792] 1st baronet 25 Apr 1726  6 Dec 1806 80
 6 Dec 1787 Charles Gould (Morgan from 1792),later [1806]
2nd baronet  4 Feb 1760  5 Dec 1846 86
[at the general election in May 1796,he was also
returned for Monmouthshire,for which he chose
to sit]
 2 Nov 1796 Sir Robert Salusbury,1st baronet 10 Sep 1756 17 Nov 1817 61
 9 Oct 1812 Charles Morgan Robinson Morgan,later
Baron Tredegar 10 Apr 1792 16 Apr 1875 83
20 Jun 1818 George Gould Morgan 12 Jul 1794 25 Aug 1845 51
3 Aug 1830 Charles Morgan Robinson Morgan,later
Baron Tredegar 10 Apr 1792 16 Apr 1875 83
12 Dec 1832 John Lloyd Vaughan Watkins        1802 28 Sep 1865 63
 6 Jan 1835 Charles Morgan Robinson Morgan,later
Baron Tredegar 10 Apr 1792 16 Apr 1875 83
 3 Aug 1847 John Lloyd Vaughan Watkins        1802 28 Sep 1865 63
 9 Jul 1852 Charles Rodney Morgan  2 Dec 1828 14 Jan 1854 25
 6 Feb 1854 John Lloyd Vaughan Watkins        1802 28 Sep 1865 63
27 Feb 1866 John Charles Pratt,Earl of Brecknock,
later Marquess Camden 30 Jun 1840  4 May 1872 31
 4 Oct 1866 Howel Gwyn   [His election was declared 24 Jun 1806 25 Jan 1888 81
void 9 Apr 1869]
24 Apr 1869 Edward Hyde Villiers,styled Baron Hyde,
later [1870] 5th Earl of Clarendon 11 Feb 1846  2 Oct 1914 68
19 Jul 1870 James Price William Gwynne-Holford 25 Nov 1833 6 Feb 1916 82
7 Apr 1880 Cyril Flower,later [1892] 1st Baron Battersea 30 Aug 1843 28 Nov 1907 64
 CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1885
  BRECON & RADNOR
14 Dec 1918 Sidney Robinson        1863  6 Dec 1956 93
15 Nov 1922 William Albert Jenkins  [kt 1938]  9 Sep 1878 23 Oct 1968 90
29 Oct 1924 Walter D'Arcy Hall 10 Aug 1891 22 Jan 1980 88
30 May 1929 Peter Freeman 19 Oct 1888 19 May 1956 67
27 Oct 1931 Walter D'Arcy Hall 10 Aug 1891 22 Jan 1980 88
14 Nov 1935 Ivor Grosvenor Guest,later [1939] 2nd Viscount
Wimborne 21 Feb 1903  7 Jan 1967 63
 1 Aug 1939 William Frederick Jackson,later
Baron Jackson 29 Nov 1893  2 May 1954 60
26 Jul 1945 Tudor Elwyn Watkins,later Baron
Watkins  9 May 1903 2 Nov 1983 80
18 Jun 1970 Caerwyn Eifion Roderick 15 Jul 1927
 3 May 1979 Tom Ellis Hooson 16 Mar 1933 8 May 1985 52
 4 Jul 1985 Richard Arthur Lloyd Livsey,later Baron Livsey 2 May 1935
9 Apr 1992 Jonathan Peter Evans 2 Jun 1950
1 May 1997 Richard Arthur Lloyd Livsey,later Baron Livsey 2 May 1935
7 Jun 2001 Roger Williams 22 Jan 1948
  BRECONSHIRE
c Apr 1660 Sir William Lewis,1st baronet 26 Mar 1598 c Nov 1677 79
c Apr 1661 Sir Henry Williams  [election declared void     c 1635    Feb 1666
25 Jul 1661]
27 Nov 1661 John Jeffreys  [election declared void 31 Jan 1662]     c 1623 24 Apr 1689
19 Mar 1662 Edward Progers 16 Jun 1621 31 Dec 1713 92
26 Feb 1679 Richard Williams     c 1654  4 Sep 1692
15 Apr 1685 Charles Somerset,styled Marquess of
Worcester  [he was also returned for    Dec 1660 13 Jul 1698 37
Gloucestershire,for which he chose to sit]
24 Jun 1685 Edward Jones     c 1659    Dec 1696
5 Mar 1690 Rowland Gwynne c 1659 24 Jan 1726
30 Oct 1695 Edward Jones     c 1659    Dec 1696
17 Feb 1697 Sir Edward Williams 6 Nov 1659 28 Jul 1721 61
3 Aug 1698 Sir Rowland Gwynne c 1659 24 Jan 1726
29 Jul 1702 John Jeffreys c 1659 2 Oct 1715
30 May 1705 Sir Edward Williams  6 Nov 1659 28 Jul 1721 61
30 Aug 1721 William Gwyn Vaughan     c 1681 31 Aug 1753
22 May 1734 John Jeffreys        1706 30 Jan 1766 59
 1 Jul 1747 Thomas Morgan 20 May 1702 12 Apr 1769 66
17 May 1769 Charles Morgan  1 Dec 1736 24 May 1787 50
20 Jun 1787 Charles Gould (Morgan from 1792) later 25 Apr 1726  6 Dec 1806 80
[1792] 1st baronet
11 Nov 1806 Thomas Wood 21 Apr 1777 26 Jan 1860 82
 4 Aug 1847 Joseph Bailey,later [1852] 1st baronet 21 Jan 1783 20 Nov 1858 75
28 Dec 1858 Godfrey Charles Morgan,later [1875] 2nd Baron
Tredegar and [1905] 1st Viscount Tredegar 28 Apr 1830 11 Mar 1913 82
22 May 1875 William Fuller-Maitland        1844 15 Nov 1932 88
23 Jul 1895 Charles Morley        1847 27 Oct 1917 70
24 Jan 1906 Sidney Robinson        1863  6 Dec 1956 93
 ALTERED TO "BRECON & RADNOR" 1918
  BRENT EAST
28 Feb 1974 Reginald Yarnitz Freeson 24 Feb 1926 9 Oct 2006 80
11 Jun 1987 Kenneth Robert Livingstone 17 Jun 1945
7 Jun 2001 Paul Daisley 20 Jul 1957 18 Jun 2003 45
18 Sep 2003 Sarah Teather 1 Jun 1974
  BRENT NORTH
28 Feb 1974 Rhodes Boyson  [kt 1987] 11 May 1925
1 May 1997 Barry Strachan Gardiner 10 Mar 1957
  BRENT SOUTH
28 Feb 1974 Laurence Anstice Pavitt  1 Feb 1914 14 Dec 1989 75
11 Jun 1987 Paul Yaw Boateng 14 Jun 1951
5 May 2005 Dawn Butler 3 Nov 1969
  BRENTFORD (MIDDLESEX)
 1 Dec 1885 Octavius Edward Coope 1814 27 Nov 1886 72
23 Dec 1886 James Bigwood        1839  6 Dec 1919 80
18 Jan 1906 Vickerman Henzell Rutherford  6 Dec 1860 25 Apr 1934 73
20 Jan 1910 Lord Alwyne Frederick Compton  5 Jun 1855 16 Dec 1911 56
23 Mar 1911 William Joynson-Hicks,later Viscount
Brentford 23 Jun 1865  8 Jun 1932 66
   NAME ALTERED TO "BRENTFORD &
CHISWICK" 1918
  BRENTFORD & CHISWICK (MIDDLESEX)
14 Dec 1918 Walter Grant Peterson Morden 20 Jul 1880 25 Jun 1932 51
27 Oct 1931 Harold Paton Mitchell,later [1945] 1st baronet 21 May 1900 8 Apr 1983 82
26 Jul 1945 Francis Edward Noel-Baker  7 Jan 1920
23 Feb 1950 Percy Belgrave Lucas 2 Sep 1915 20 Mar 1998 82
8 Oct 1959 Dudley Gordon Smith 14 Nov 1926
31 Mar 1966 Michael Cecil John Barnes 22 Sep 1932
NAME ALTERED TO  "BRENTFORD &
ISLEWORTH" FEB 1974
  BRENTFORD & ISLEWORTH (MIDDLESEX)
28 Feb 1974 Sir Bernard John Hayhoe,later Baron Hayhoe  8 Aug 1925
9 Apr 1992 Niranjan Joseph Aditya Deva 11 May 1948
1 May 1997 Ann Lloyd Keen 26 Nov 1948
  BRENTWOOD & ONGAR
28 Feb 1974 Robert Arthur McCrindle 19 Sep 1929 8 Oct 1998 69
9 Apr 1992 Eric Jack Pickles 20 Apr 1952
BRIDGEND (MID GLAMORGAN)
 9 Jun 1983 Peter Charles Hubbard-Miles 9 May 1927 1 Oct 2005 78
11 Jun 1987 Winston James Griffiths 11 Feb 1943
5 May 2005 Madeleine Moon 27 Mar 1950
  BRIDGETON (GLASGOW)
27 Nov 1885 Edward Richard Russell,later [1919] 1st Baron
Russell of Liverpool  9 Aug 1834 20 Feb 1920 85
 2 Aug 1887 Sir George Otto Trevelyan,2nd baronet 20 Jul 1838 17 Aug 1928 90
15 Feb 1897 Sir Charles Cameron,1st baronet 18 Dec 1841  2 Oct 1924 82
 4 Oct 1900 Charles Scott Dickson 13 Sep 1850  5 Aug 1922 71
18 Jan 1906 James William Cleland        1874 21 Oct 1914 40
   Dec 1910 Alexander MacCallum Scott 16 Jun 1874 25 Aug 1928 54
15 Nov 1922 James Maxton        1885 23 Jul 1946 61
29 Aug 1946 James Carmichael Apr 1894 19 Jan 1966 71
16 Nov 1961 James Bennett 18 Dec 1912 17 Sep 1984 71
 CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED FEB 1974
  BRIDGNORTH (SHROPSHIRE)
13 Apr 1660 Sir Walter Acton,2nd baronet     c 1621  3 Sep 1665
John Bennet  (to 1663) 10 Jan 1628 16 May 1663 35
26 Mar 1661 Sir William Whitmore,2nd baronet  (to 1699)  6 Apr 1637 30 Mar 1699 61
17 Jul 1663 Sir Thomas Whitmore     c 1642 21 May 1682
30 Mar 1685 Roger Pope 23 May 1645 10 Aug 1710 65
11 Jan 1689 Sir Edward Acton,3rd baronet  (to 1705)     c 1650 28 Sep 1716
4 May 1699 Roger Pope 28 Oct 1668 27 Feb 1706 37
21 Jul 1702 Sir Humphrey Briggs,4th baronet  (to 1710) c 1670 8 Dec 1734
11 May 1705 William Whitmore c 1682 24 May 1725
11 Oct 1710 Whitmore Acton,later [1716] 4th baronet 1 Apr 1678 9 Jan 1732 53
  Richard Cresswell 1688 1743 55
1 Sep 1713 William Whitmore c 1682 24 May 1725
John Weaver  (to 1734) 21 Oct 1675  9 Jan 1747 71
 
 8 Jun 1725 St.John Charlton    Sep 1742
14 May 1734 Thomas Whitmore  (to 1754) 21 Dec 1711 15 Apr 1773 61
Grey James Grove 10 Nov 1682    Apr 1742 59
14 May 1741 William Whitmore 14 May 1714 22 Jul 1771 57
24 Jun 1747 Arthur Weaver     c 1719  5 Apr 1759
16 Apr 1754 John Grey     c 1724 25 Feb 1777
William Whitmore  (to 1771) 14 May 1714 22 Jul 1771 57
18 Mar 1768 George Pigot,Baron Pigot  (to 1778)  4 May 1719 11 May 1777 58
20 Sep 1771 Thomas Whitmore  (to 1795)     c 1742 17 Apr 1795
16 Feb 1778 Hugh Pigot 28 May 1722 15 Dec 1792 70
 5 Apr 1784 Isaac Hawkins Browne  (to 1812)  7 Dec 1745 30 May 1818 72
28 Apr 1795 John Whitmore 15 Oct 1750  9 Oct 1826 75
 1 Nov 1806 Thomas Whitmore  (to 1831) 16 Nov 1782  6 Feb 1846 63
 8 Oct 1812 Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson,later
Earl of Liverpool 29 May 1784  3 Oct 1851 67
20 Jun 1818 Sir Thomas John Tyrwhitt Jones,2nd baronet 12 Jul 1793  5 Oct 1839 46
7 Mar 1820 William Wolryche-Whitmore  (to 1832) c 1787 11 Aug 1858
3 May 1831 James Foster c 1787 12 Apr 1853
11 Dec 1832 Robert Pigot,later [1841] 4th baronet        1801  1 Jun 1891 89
Thomas Charlton Whitmore  (to 1852)  5 Jan 1807 13 Mar 1865 58
26 Jul 1837 Henry Hanbury Tracy 11 Apr 1802  6 Apr 1889 86
20 Feb 1838 Sir Robert Pigot,4th baronet  (to 1853)        1801  1 Jun 1891 89
[following the general election in Jul 1852,his
election was declared void 26 Feb 1853]
 8 Jul 1852 Henry Whitmore  (to 1865) 13 Oct 1813  2 May 1876 62
23 Mar 1853 John Pritchard  (to 1868) 1797 19 Aug 1891 94
13 Jul 1865 Sir John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton,
later Baron Acton   [he was unseated on petition 10 Jan 1834 19 Jun 1902 68
in favour of Henry Whitmore 22 Mar 1866]
22 Mar 1866 Henry Whitmore  (to 1870) 13 Oct 1813  2 May 1876 62
REPRESENTATION REDUCED
TO ONE MEMBER 1868
16 Feb 1870 William Henry Foster
 CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1885
  BRIDGWATER (SOMERSET)
30 Mar 1660 Sir Thomas Wroth  5 May 1584 11 Jul 1662 78
Francis Rolle     c 1630  6 Apr 1686
30 Mar 1661 Edmund Wyndham  (to 1679)     c 1600  2 Mar 1681
John Tynte 11 Dec 1617 26 Aug 1669 51
 3 Nov 1669 Sir Francis Rolle  [he was unseated on petition in     c 1630  6 Apr 1686
favour of Peregrine Palmer 7 Dec 1669]
 7 Dec 1669 Peregrine Palmer  6 Jun 1605  9 Jun 1684 79
14 Feb 1679 Sir Halswell Tynte,1st baronet  (to 1689)  4 Feb 1649  7 Apr 1702 53
Sir Francis Rolle     c 1630  6 Apr 1686
Ralph Stawell     c 1641  8 Aug 1689
Double return. Tynte and Rolle seated
20 Sep 1679 Ralph Stawell     c 1641  8 Aug 1689
26 Feb 1681 Sir John Malet     c 1623  8 Apr 1686
 8 Apr 1685 Sir Francis Warre,1st baronet  (to 1695)     c 1659  1 Dec 1718
12 Jan 1689 Henry Bull  8 Oct 1630 28 Jan 1692 61
24 Feb 1692 Robert Balch c 1651 by Nov 1705
23 Oct 1695 Nathaniel Palmer 1 Sep 1660 16 Jan 1718 57
Roger Hoar  (to 1699) 12 May 1699
25 Jul 1698 George Crane  (to 1701) 6 Oct 1708
29 Nov 1699 Sir Francis Warre ,1st baronet     c 1659  1 Dec 1718
8 Jan 1701 John Gilbert c 1650 1732
George Balch  (to 1710) 1738
28 Nov 1701 Sir Thomas Wroth,3rd baronet c 1674 27 Jun 1721
5 May 1708 George Dodington  (to 1713) c 1662 28 Mar 1720
11 Oct 1710 Nathaniel Palmer  (to 1715) 1 Sep 1660 16 Jan 1718 57
31 Aug 1713 John Rolle after 1655 1726
 1 Feb 1715 George Dodington c 1662 28 Mar 1720
Thomas Palmer  (to 1727)     c 1685 16 Mar 1735
19 Apr 1720 William Pitt c Jun 1725
21 Mar 1722 George Bubb Dodington,later Baron
Melcombe  (to 1754)     c 1691 28 Jul 1762
17 Aug 1727 Sir Halswell Tynte,2nd baronet 15 Nov 1705 12 Nov 1730 24
 5 Feb 1731 Thomas Palmer     c 1685 16 Mar 1735
 7 Apr 1735 Charles Wyndham,later Earl of
Egremont 19 Aug 1710 21 Aug 1763 53
12 May 1741 Vere Poulett,later Earl Poulett 18 May 1710 14 Apr 1788 77
27 Jun 1747 Peregrine Poulett 10 Dec 1708 28 Aug 1752 43
19 Jan 1753 Robert Balch  (to 1761)  3 Jan 1724 15 Apr 1779 55
19 Apr 1754 John Perceval,Earl of Egmont
(to 1762) 24 Feb 1711 20 Dec 1770 59
28 Mar 1761 Edward Southwell,later [1776] 20th Baron de
Clifford  (to 1763)  6 Jun 1738  1 Nov 1777 39
 5 May 1762 John James Perceval,Viscount Perceval,
later Earl of Egmont  (to 1769)   [following the 29 Jan 1738 25 Feb 1822 84
general election in Mar 1768,he was unseated on
petition in favour of Anne Poulett 14 Mar 1769]
21 Nov 1763 Gabriel Hanger,Baron Coleraine [I]  9 Jan 1697 24 Jan 1773 76
18 Mar 1768 Benjamin Allen  (to 1781)   [following the general     c 1731 c Oct 1791
election in Sep 1780,he was unseated on
petition in favour of John Acland 2 Mar 1781]
14 Mar 1769 Anne Poulett  (to 1785) 11 Jul 1711  5 Jul 1785 73
 2 Mar 1781 John Acland 11 Feb 1756 23 Feb 1831 75
 5 Apr 1784 Sir Alexander Hood,later [1794] 1st Baron
Bridport [ I ] and [1800] 1st Viscount Bridport  2 Dec 1726  3 May 1814 87
(to 1790)
21 Jul 1785 Robert Thornton  9 Jan 1759 16 Mar 1826 67
18 Jun 1790 Vere Poulett    May 1761 15 Mar 1812 50
John Langston 11 Feb 1812
27 May 1796 George Pocock,later [1821] 1st baronet 15 Oct 1765 14 Jul 1840 74
(to 1806)
Jeffreys Allen     c 1760 23 Aug 1844
26 Jun 1804 John Hudleston  2 Sep 1749  6 Mar 1835 85
31 Oct 1806 Vere Poulett    May 1761 15 Mar 1812 50
John Langston 11 Feb 1812
 5 May 1807 William Thornton (Astell from Jun 1807) 13 Oct 1774  7 Mar 1847 72
(to 1832)
George Pocock,later [1821] 1st baronet 15 Oct 1765 14 Jul 1840 74
7 Mar 1820 Charles Kemeys Kemeys Tynte
(to Aug 1837) 29 May 1778 22 Nov 1860 82
11 Dec 1832 William Tayleur c 1803  5 Nov 1873
 6 Jan 1835 John Temple Leader        1810 1 Mar 1903 92
16 May 1837 Henry Broadwood  (to 1852)  8 Aug 1795 1878 82
26 Aug 1837 Philip Courtenay c 1785 10 Dec 1841
29 Jun 1841 Thomas Seaton Forman 1791 30 Dec 1850 59
29 Jul 1847 Charles John Kemeys Tynte  (to 1865)        1800 16 Sep 1882 82
 7 Jul 1852 Brent Spencer Follett        1810 23 Jan 1887 76
28 Mar 1857 Alexander William Kinglake  (to 1869)  5 Aug 1809  2 Jan 1891 81
12 Jul 1865 Henry Westropp   [he was unseated on petition        1811 1886 75
25 Apr 1866]
 7 Jun 1866 George Patton        1803 20 Sep 1869 66
For further information on this MP,see the note
at the foot of the page containing details
of the Scottish Lords of Session
12 Jul 1866 Philip Vanderbyl   [following the general election        1827 16 May 1892 64
in Nov 1868, the two sitting members (Kinglake
and Vanderbyl) were unseated on petition
26 Feb 1869. No writ was issued to replace
these members and an Act to disenfranchise
this seat received Royal assent on 4 Jul 1870]
CONSTITUENCY DISENFRANCHISED 1870
BUT REVIVED 1885
 5 Dec 1885 Edward James Stanley 16 Dec 1826 29 Sep 1907 80
19 Jan 1906 Henry Greville Montgomery 15 Dec 1863  2 Dec 1951 87
20 Jan 1910 Robert Arthur Sanders,later [1929] 1st Baron
Bayford 20 Jun 1867 24 Feb 1940 72
 6 Dec 1923 William Ewart Morse 23 Nov 1878 18 Dec 1952 74
29 Oct 1924 Brooks Crompton Wood 27 Mar 1870 29 Jul 1946 76
30 May 1929 Reginald Powell Croom-Johnson 27 Jul 1879 29 Dec 1957 78
17 Nov 1938 Charles Vernon Oldfield Bartlett 30 Apr 1894 18 Jan 1983 88
23 Feb 1950 Gerald Wells  [kt 1958]  3 Oct 1905 31 Oct 1969 64
12 Mar 1970 Thomas Jeremy King,later Baron King
of Bridgwater 13 Jun 1933
7 Jun 2001 Ian Liddell-Grainger 23 Feb 1959
  BRIDLINGTON (YORKSHIRE)
23 Feb 1950 Richard Frederick Wood,later Baron
Holderness  5 Oct 1920 11 Aug 2002 81
 3 May 1979 John Ernest Townend 12 Jun 1934
 CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1997
  BRIDPORT (DORSET)
16 Apr 1660 Sir John Drake,1st baronet  4 Apr 1625  6 Jul 1669 44
Henry Henley     c 1612 10 Jun 1696
 4 Apr 1661 Humphrey Bishop     c 1612   late 1675
John Strangways  (to 27 Feb 1677) 15 Oct 1636  6 Apr 1676 39
 1 Feb 1677 George Bowerman  (to Feb 1679)     c 1646    Apr 1683
27 Feb 1677 Wadham Strangways  (to Aug 1679)        1646 15 Jun 1685 38
25 Feb 1679 John Every 15 Nov 1643  8 Jul 1679 35
22 Aug 1679 Sir Robert Henley,2nd baronet by 1655  7 Aug 1681
William Bragge  (to 1685)  5 Oct 1640 24 Mar 1713 72
24 Feb 1681 John Michell     c 1642 13 Mar 1718
21 Apr 1685 Hugh Hodges 11 Jun 1641 16 Aug 1693 52
Thomas Chafe     c 1642 25 Nov 1701
11 Jan 1689 Richard Brodrepp     c 1639  4 Feb 1707
John Manley     c 1622 31 Jan 1699
28 Feb 1690 John Michell     c 1642 13 Mar 1718
Sir Stephen Evance  (to 1698) c 1655 5 Mar 1712
25 Oct 1695 Nicholas Carey c 1651 c May 1697
22 Dec 1697 Peter Battiscombe  (to 1701) 1725
4 Aug 1698 Alexander Pitfield  (to 1708) 14 Apr 1659 19 Oct 1728 69
10 Jan 1701 William Gulston 1652 2 Jan 1737 84
20 Jul 1702 Richard Bingham c 1667 1735
14 May 1705 Thomas Strangways  (to 1713) c 1683 23 Sep 1726
10 May 1708 William Coventry,later Earl of Coventry
(to 1719) c 1676 18 Mar 1751
29 Aug 1713 John Hoskins Gifford c 1693 Aug 1744
 1 Feb 1715 John Strangways   [he was unseated on petition     c 1688  5 May 1716
in favour of Peter Walter 10 May 1715]
10 May 1715 Peter Walter  (to 1727)     c 1663 19 Jan 1746
30 Nov 1719 Sir Dewey Bulkeley  7 Nov 1735
24 Aug 1727 William Bowles  (to 1742)   [at the general 11 Feb 1686 14 May 1748 62
election in May 1741,Bowles was also returned
for Bewdley,for which he chose to sit]
James Pelham   [he was also returned for     c 1683 27 Dec 1761
Newark,for which he chose to sit]
20 Feb 1730 John Jewkes 28 Apr 1683 25 Sep 1743 60
29 Apr 1734 Solomon Ashley    Feb 1775
 8 May 1741 George Richards  (to 1746) 25 Nov 1746
 2 Apr 1742 Thomas Henry Coventry,styled Viscount
Deerhurst 27 Mar 1721 20 May 1744 23
 5 Dec 1744 George William Coventry,Viscount
Deerhurst,later Earl of Coventry
(to Jul 1747) 26 Apr 1722  3 Sep 1809 87
12 Dec 1746 Thomas Grenville  4 Apr 1719  3 May 1747 28
25 May 1747 James Grenville  (to 1754) 12 Feb 1715 14 Sep 1783 68
 1 Jul 1747 John Frederick Pinney  (to 1761) 27 Jan 1719 11 Nov 1762 43
15 Apr 1754 Thomas Coventry  (to 1780)     c 1713 21 May 1797
28 Mar 1761 Sir Gerard Napier,6th baronet        1739 25 Jan 1765 25
 4 Feb 1765 Benjamin Way 18 Sep 1740 22 Aug 1808 67
18 Mar 1768 Sambrooke Freeman     c 1721 21 Sep 1782
 8 Oct 1774 Lucius Ferdinand Cary        1735 20 Aug 1780 45
 8 Sep 1780 Thomas Scott  (to 1790)         1723        1816 93
Richard Beckford 12 Aug 1796
 1 Apr 1784 Charles Sturt  (to 1802) 20 Mar 1763 12 May 1812 49
18 Jun 1790 James Watson        1748  2 May 1796 47
13 Mar 1795 George Barclay  (to 1807)     c 1759  8 Jun 1819
 6 Jul 1802 Evan Nepean,later [16 Jul 1802] 1st baronet 9 Jul 1751  2 Oct 1822 71
(to 1812)
 6 May 1807 Sir Samuel Hood 27 Nov 1762 24 Dec 1814 52
 9 Oct 1812 William Draper Best,later Baron
Wynford 13 Dec 1767  3 Mar 1845 77
Horace David Cholwell St.Paul,later [1813]
1st baronet  (to 1820)  6 Jan 1775 10 Oct 1840 65
28 Mar 1817 Henry Charles Sturt  9 Aug 1795 14 Apr 1866 70
11 Mar 1820 James Scott  (to 1826) 1835
Christopher Spurrier    [by order of the House c 1782 13 Nov 1876
his name was erased and that of Sir Horace
David Cholwell St.Paul was substituted
20 Jun 1820]
20 Jun 1820 Sir Horace David Cholwell St.Paul,1st baronet  6 Jan 1775 10 Oct 1840 65
(to 1832)
9 Jun 1826 Henry Warburton  (to Sep 1841)     c 1784 16 Sep 1858
10 Dec 1832 John Romilly,later [1866] 1st Baron Romilly 10 Jan 1802 23 Dec 1874 72
 6 Jan 1835 Horace Twiss c 1787  4 May 1849
25 Jul 1837 Swynfen Jervis by 1846
29 Jun 1841 Thomas Alexander Mitchell  (to 1875) 16 Mar 1875
15 Sep 1841 Alexander Dundas Wishart Ross Baillie-
Cochrane,later [1880] 1st Baron Lamington  24 Nov 1816 15 Feb 1890 73
[he resigned his seat and contested the
subsequent by-election held on 7 Mar 1846,at
which he was again returned. However,he was
unseated on petition in favour of John Romilly
28 Apr 1846]
28 Apr 1846 John Romilly,later [1866] 1st Baron Romilly 10 Jan 1802 23 Dec 1874 72
29 Jul 1847 Alexander Dundas Wishart Ross Baillie-
Cochrane,later [1880] 1st Baron Lamington  24 Nov 1816 15 Feb 1890 73
 8 Jul 1852 John Patrick Murrough        1822
28 Mar 1857 Kirkman Daniel Hodgson        1814 11 Sep 1879 65
REPRESENTATION REDUCED
TO ONE MEMBER 1868
31 Mar 1875 Pandeli Ralli 28 May 1845 21 Aug 1928 83
2 Apr 1880 Charles Nicholas Warton        1832 31 Jul 1900 68
 CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1885
  BRIERLEY HILL (STAFFORDSHIRE)
23 Feb 1950 Charles James Simmons  9 Apr 1893 11 Aug 1975 82
 8 Oct 1959 John Ellis Talbot 24 Apr 1906  9 Jan 1967 60
24 Apr 1967 William Fergus Montgomery 25 Nov 1927
 CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED FEB 1974
  BRIGG (LINCOLNSHIRE)
 4 Dec 1885 Sir Henry Meysey Meysey-Thompson,
later [1905] 1st Baron Knaresborough 30 Aug 1845  3 Mar 1929 83
 7 Jul 1886 Samuel Danks Waddy        1830 30 Dec 1902 72
 7 Dec 1894 John Maunsell Richardson        1846 22 Jan 1912 65
19 Jul 1895 Harold James Reckitt,later [1924] 2nd baronet 5 May 1868 29 Dec 1930 62
25 Feb 1907 Sir Berkeley Digby George Sheffield 19 Jan 1876 26 Nov 1946 70
21 Jan 1910 Sir William Alfred Gelder 12 May 1855 26 Aug 1941 86
14 Dec 1918 Charles Wesley Weldon McLean    Aug 1882  5 Sep 1962 80
15 Nov 1922 Sir Berkeley Digby George Sheffield 19 Jan 1876 26 Nov 1946 70
30 May 1929 David John Kinsley Quibell,later [1945] 1st
Baron Quibell 21 Dec 1879 16 Apr 1962 82
27 Oct 1931 Michael John Hunter 15 Jul 1891  9 Mar 1951 59
14 Nov 1935 David John Kinsley Quibell,later [1945] 1st
Baron Quibell 21 Dec 1879 16 Apr 1962 82
26 Jul 1945 Thomas Williamson,later [1962] Baron
Williamson [L]  2 Sep 1897 27 Feb 1983 85
24 Mar 1948 Edward Lancelot Mallalieu 14 Mar 1905 11 Nov 1979 74
  NAME ALTERED TO  "BRIGG &
SCUNTHORPE" FEB 1974
BRIGG & CLEETHORPES
 9 Jun 1983 Michael Russell Brown  3 Jul 1951
NAME ALTERED TO  "BRIGG &
GOOLE" 1997
BRIGG & GOOLE
1 May 1997 Ian Arthur Cawsey 14 Apr 1960
  BRIGG & SCUNTHORPE  (LINCOLNSHIRE)
28 Feb 1974 John Ellis 22 Oct 1930
 3 May 1979 Michael Russell Brown  3 Jul 1951
 CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1983
  BRIGHOUSE & SPENBOROUGH
23 Feb 1950 Frederick Arthur Cobb 11 Feb 1901 27 Mar 1950 49
 4 May 1950 Lewis John Edwards 27 May 1904 23 Nov 1959 55
17 Mar 1960 Michael Norman Shaw,later Baron Shaw
of Northstead  9 Oct 1920
15 Oct 1964 George Colin Jackson  6 Dec 1921 19 Apr 1981 59
18 Jun 1970 George Wilfred Proudfoot 19 Dec 1921
28 Feb 1974 George Colin Jackson  6 Dec 1921 19 Apr 1981 59
 3 May 1979 Gary Peter Anthony Waller 24 Jun 1945
 CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1983
  BRIGHTON (SUSSEX)
13 Dec 1832 Isaac Newton Wigney  (to 1837) 1795 1844 49
George Faithful
10 Jan 1835 Sir George Richard Pechell,4th baronet  (to 1860) 30 Jun 1789 29 Jun 1860 70
26 Jul 1837 Sir Adolphus John Dalrymple,2nd baronet  3 Feb 1784  3 Mar 1866 82
 1 Jul 1841 Isaac Newton Wigney 1795 1844 49
 5 May 1842 Lord Alfred Hervey 25 Jun 1816 15 Apr 1875 58
28 Mar 1857 William Coningham  (to 1864)        1815 20 Dec 1884 69
16 Jul 1860 James White  (to 1874)         1809  9 Jan 1883 73
16 Feb 1864 Henry Moor 1809 12 May 1877 67
13 Jul 1865 Henry Fawcett 26 Aug 1833  6 Nov 1884 51
For further information on this MP, see the
note at the foot of this page.
 5 Feb 1874 James Lloyd Ashbury        1834  3 Sep 1895 61
Charles Cameron Shute 1816 30 Apr 1904 87
5 Apr 1880 John Robert Hollond 2 Nov 1843 19 Oct 1912 68
Sir William Thackeray Marriott
(to 1893)        1834 27 Jul 1903 69
25 Nov 1885 David Smith        1826  3 Nov 1886 60
29 Nov 1886 Sir William Tindal Robertson        1825  6 Oct 1889 64
25 Oct 1889 Gerald Walter Erskine Loder,later [1934] 1st
Baron Wakehurst  (to 1905) 25 Oct 1861 30 Apr 1936 74
14 Dec 1893 Bruce Canning Vernon-Wentworth
(to 1906)        1862 12 Nov 1951 89
 5 Apr 1905 Ernest Amherst Villiers  (to 1910) 14 Nov 1863 26 Sep 1923 59
16 Jan 1906 Edward Aurelian Ridsdale  [kt 1920] 23 Feb 1864  6 Sep 1923 59
18 Jan 1910 George Clement Tryon,later [1940] 1st Baron
Tryon  (to 1940) 15 May 1871 24 Nov 1940 69
Walter FitzUryan Rice,later [1911] 7th Baron 17 Aug 1873  8 Jun 1956 82
Dynevor
26 Jun 1911 John Edward Gordon  5 Feb 1850 19 Feb 1915 65
29 Jun 1914 Charles Thomas-Stanford,later [1929] 1st
baronet 3 Apr 1858  7 Mar 1932 73
15 Nov 1922 Sir Alfred Cooper Rawson  (to 1944) 26 Jul 1876 11 Jan 1946 69
May 1940 John Francis Ashley Erskine,styled Lord Erskine 26 Apr 1895 3 May 1953 58
15 Nov 1941 Anthony Alfred Harmsworth Marlowe
(to 1950) 25 Oct 1904  8 Sep 1965 60
   Feb 1944 Luke William Burke Teeling  [kt 1962]  5 Feb 1903 26 Oct 1975 72
   CONSTITUENCY ABOLISHED 1950
  BRIGHTSIDE (SHEFFIELD)
25 Nov 1885 Anthony John Mundella 28 Mar 1825 21 Jul 1897 72
 6 Aug 1897 Frederick Maddison 17 Aug 1856 12 Mar 1937 80
 3 Oct 1900 James Fitzalan Hope,later [1932] 1st Baron
Rankeillour 11 Dec 1870 14 Feb 1949 78
15 Jan 1906 Sir John Tudor Walters        1868 16 Jul 1933 65
15 Nov 1922 Arthur Augustus William Harry Ponsonby,
later [1930] 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede 16 Feb 1871 23 Mar 1946 75
 6 Feb 1930 Fred Marshall        1883    Nov 1962 79
27 Oct 1931 Hamer Field Russell        1876  6 Jun 1941 64
14 Nov 1935 Fred Marshall        1883    Nov 1962 79
23 Feb 1950 Richard Emanuel Winterbottom 22 Jul 1899  9 Feb 1968 68
13 Jun 1968 Edward Griffiths  7 Mar 1929 18 Oct 1995 66
10 Oct 1974 Vera Joan Maynard 5 Jul 1921 27 Mar 1998 76
11 Jun 1987 David Blunkett 6 Jun 1947
Henry Fawcett, MP for Brighton 1865-1874 and Hackney 1874-1884
Fawcett was born in Salisbury in 1833, the son of a successful businessman. He was
educated at King's College School, London and at Cambridge University and, in 1858,
was studying law at Lincoln's Inn. 
In September of that year, he was hunting pheasants on Harnham Hill, near Salisbury. As
a pheasant broke from cover, he had the bad luck to walk in front of his father, who
failed to see him until too late. Fawcett was hit by shotgun pellets in both eyes, completely
blinding him. After his wounds healed, he returned to Cambridge, entering Trinity Hall to
study political economy as a prelude to entering politics as a career. Relying entirely on
memorizing the books that were read to him, he published an immensely successful Manual
of Political Economy in 1863, and in the same year was appointed Professor of Political
Economy at Cambridge.
Beginning in 1860, he made a number of attempts to enter Parliament, but his blindness was
viewed by his party as being an insuperable obstacle; moreover, his views were considered
to be rather too radical. However, persistence paid off and he was elected for Brighton in
1865.
During a political meeting in 1865, news arrived that Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated.
Fawcett's keen ears caught a chance remark by an 18-year-old girl who said, 'Better had it
been the crowned heads of all Europe than Abraham Lincoln.' Declaring that he must meet
the girl, Fawcett pushed his way towards the voice and, two years later, Millicent Garrett
becames Mrs Fawcett.
The Fawcetts set up house within 15 minutes' walk to the House of Commons, where 'a
most convenient seat, close to the door' had been provided for him. For recreation,
Fawcett took up gardening, skating, rowing, fishing and riding.
In 1880, his 15 years of parliamentary service were rewarded when he was appointed
Postmaster General in Gladstone's cabinet. He rapidly proved himself to be a remarkably
capable administrator. His innovations included the parcel post, postal notes [money orders],
cheap telegrams, State savings facilities and State insurance.
In November 1884, he was struck down with pleurisy and died. Few better examples of
struggles to overcome physical handicaps can be found than Henry Fawcett. His wife
survived him by 45 years, becoming a leading advocate of women's suffrage (but never a
suffragette - she believed the suffragettes did more harm than good to the cause of
woman's suffrage). She was made Dame Millicent Fawcett in 1925.
Copyright @ 2003-2008 Leigh Rayment