Preston elections were dominated by the neighbouring country gentlemen, most of whom were Tories, if not Jacobites. The mainstay of the Whigs was the Hoghton family, the patrons of the strong local nonconformist community. The earls of Derby were influential, particularly after 1736, when Sir Edward Stanley, who had inherited a considerable estate in Preston itself, succeeded to the title.
Newton, a proprietary borough, was under the absolute control of the Leghs of Lyme who held the barony and nominated the returning officers.
The most important factor in Liverpool elections was the corporation, consisting of a mayor, two bailiffs, elected annually by the freemen, who also constituted the parliamentary electorate, and a predominantly Whig council of 41 members, a close body, which had gradually superseded a common hall, consisting of all the freemen.
In the first half of the eighteenth century Lancaster was still a port of some importance, though in course of being eclipsed by Liverpool. There was a large nonconformist element. The borough returned Whigs, usually either neighbouring country gentlemen or merchants with local connexions. There were no contests until 1727, when the notorious Colonel Charteris, having acquired an estate near Lancaster,
In 1715 Thomas Lister, a Tory, whose family had represented Clitheroe since the early seventeenth century, headed the poll, two other Tories, Thomas Parker, whose cousin, Christopher Parker, had represented Clitheroe 1708-13, and Edward Harvey, who had been put up by his kinsman, Ralph, 2nd Duke of Montagu, lord of the honour of Clitheroe, tying for the second seat. Harvey was declared elected by the House of Commons after Parker had refused to contest the return before the elections committee.CJ, xviii.
During the Civil War Wigan had been loyal to the King, a loyalty which the corporation never ceased to exploit in after years when in search of privileges, claiming that the town had maintained the royalist garrison at its own expense, and had been seven times plundered and burdened with free quarter. The earls of Derby, usually seconded by the Bradshaighs, enjoyed the principal interest in the borough. The rectory, held in commendam with the bishopric of Chester, carried with it the lordship of the manor, and represented another important interest.D. Sinclair, Hist.
‘Proud Preston’, seat of the duchy administration, swarmed with lawyers and other professional men, as the heralds’ visitation of 1664-5 shows. Perhaps in consequence the corporation was unusually independent; though they allowed the duchy and the Earl of Derby to claim one seat each, they demanded and exercised the right of veto over their nominees.
Although their chief residence was in Cheshire, the Leghs of Lyme enjoyed the principal property interest in Newton throughout the period, and in 1661 Richard Legh acquired the borough and manor from Sir Thomas Fleetwood. Thus not only were most of the burgages held by him, but the steward, who acted as returning officer, was chosen in his court leet.E. C. Legh, Lady Newton, House of Lyme, 165; VCH Lancs. iv. 136.
By the mid-17th century, Liverpool was an expanding port, and in the years after the Restoration it continued to grow at an increasing rate, especially after experience of the plague and fire caused many London merchants to transfer their interests there. Liverpool had links with Ireland and the Isle of Man as well as a profitable coastal trade, and associations with Africa, the West Indies and India were beginning to assume importance.J. A. Picton, Liverpool Mun. Recs. 124, 236, 243, 256, 261.
At the general election of 1660 the Kirkby family was not in a position to exert its usual influence at Lancaster, being disqualified under the Long Parliament ordinance which barred Cavaliers from sitting. Both Members in the Convention had a parliamentary record in the Civil War. The senior, Sir Gilbert Gerard, was a Presbyterian who had regained his post as chancellor of the duchy on the return of the secluded Members.
