Borough

The borough of Pembroke had been the focus of the influence of the Owens of Orielton since the mid 17th century. It was on their doorstep and the corporation enfranchised voters in their interest only: the admission books were not even accessible to their opponents in the litigation that followed the contest of 1812. The Owens had not succeeded in their earlier attempts to disfranchise Wiston, the lesser contributory borough which was influenced by their enemy Lord Cawdor, lord of the manor by purchase from 1794, who at once created 600 burgesses. The Owens now did the same at Pembroke.

The leader of the Haverfordwest corporation, which had a decisive influence in elections, was Lord Milford, representing the long established interest of the Philipps family of Picton Castle. Since 1747, however, the seat had been held, apart from one break from 1784 to 1786, by the representative of the next strongest interest, William Edwardes, Baron Kensington. This arose from an arrangement whereby Kensington supported the Picton Castle interest for the county against the Owens of Orielton.R. D. Rees, ‘Parl. Rep. S. Wales 1790-1830’ (Reading Univ. Ph.D. thesis, 1962), i.

Since 1728 Montgomery had been in the pocket of the Herbert family, earls of Powis, and attempts to oppose them were few and far between. According to a lawyer of local origin, Samuel Humphreys, writing conspiratorially to his brother, 15 Dec. 1788: ‘an opposition to Lord Powis in the borough would succeed if a proper person contended against him and if the persons concerned in it would be regulated by discretion and secrecy’.

The Cardiff Castle interest was predominant in this period, returning all the Members.Ll. B. John, ‘Parl. Rep. Glam. 1536-1832’ (Cardiff Univ. M.A. thesis, 1934); R. D. Rees, ‘Parl. Rep. S. Wales 1790-1830’ (Reading Univ. Ph.D. thesis, 1962), i. 219. It was transmitted by the marriage of the heiress of Viscount Windsor in 1766 to John Stuart, 4th Earl and 1st Marquess of Bute (d. 1814), and he returned three of his sons; the 2nd Marquess returned his brother in 1818.

Watkin Williams of Penbedw represented the boroughs unchallenged for nearly 30 years: his father had sat for Flint too, and on his being persuaded to retire in 1806 he wished his wife’s great-nephew, Col. Shipley, to succeed him. The latter was about to marry a sister of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, 5th Bt. (whose father was first cousin of the retiring Member) and he hoped to get the support of the Williams Wynns and of their uncle Lord Grenville, the prime minister.

Richard Myddelton of Chirk Castle, whose family had represented Denbigh continuously since 1722, was returned unopposed until his early death in 1796, whereupon the estates and interest devolved upon his sisters and coheiresses, none of whom was then married. In this interregnum a neighbouring landed gentleman Thomas Jones of Carreghwva filled the vacancy, insisting on his independence. In 1798 Maria Myddelton, whose portion included Holt, married Frederick West, who took up residence at Chirk Castle and was returned at the election of 1802.Oldfield, Rep. Hist. vi.

Carmarthen was the most unruly borough in Wales and elections there continued to be dominated, as they had been for 50 years past, by the rivalry of the Blue and Red factions. In this period, the Whig Blues were triumphant; and it was a renegade from their camp, the firebrand John Jones, who from 1812 onwards revived the Red party nominally led by Lord Dynevor and secured their vengeance in the by-election of 1821.G. Roberts, Hist. Cam. ed. Lloyd, ii. 1-87; R. D. Rees, ‘Parl. Rep. S. Wales 1790-1830’ (Reading Univ. Ph.D. thesis, 1962), i. 176.

The Cardigan boroughs had been keenly contested throughout the 18th century among the county families but there was no contest in this period until 1812.

The fratricidal struggle between Thomas Wynn, 1st Baron Newborough, and Glynn Wynn at the 1784 election marked the eclipse of the supremacy of the Wynns of Glynllifon in the boroughs.P. D. G. Thomas, Trans. Caern. Hist. Soc. xx. 72; K. Evans, ibid. viii.

Brecon remained a pocket borough of the Morgan family of Tredegar, who controlled the self-elected corporation of 15, which in turn had the sole right to create freemen. The number of freemen was kept low.R. D. Rees, ‘Parl. Rep. S. Wales 1790-1830’ (Reading Univ. Ph.D. thesis, 1962), i. 130. This arrangement was challenged for the first time since 1740 in 1818, by which time the population had grown to nearly 4,000. Walter Wilkins, son of the Radnorshire Member, stood on behalf of the inhabitant householders.