1826

Dates: Thursday 15 June-Tuesday 27 June 1826.

Poll book reference: A copy of the poll... (Bedford: C. B. Merry, 1826).

Candidates: Thomas Potter Macqueen (Tory); Francis Russell, marquis of Tavistock (Whig); and Francis Pym (Whig).

Thomas Macqueen was a wealthy, anti-Catholic Tory who supported the Government. He had previously served as MP for East Looe from 1816 to 1826.

Francis Russell, Lord Tavistock, was the son and heir of the 6th duke of Bedford. He had been elected Knight of the Shire in 1812.

Francis Pym was an incumbent Whig candidate. He had announced his retirement from politics in 1825, but was nominated in his absence by fellow Whigs to keep a Tory contest at bay. He did not attend the election but said he would serve if elected.

The Election Treating Act, which from 1806 had banned the provision of food and drink to woo the voterate, became contentious in the course of the campaign. Russell, a convert to the Act, stood on the purity of election principles. His brother, the politician Lord John Russell, was more pragmatic: 'the people cry ?ÄúNo Popery?Äù, but I believe the part of the Roman Catholic religion they dislike the most is the fasting'. Instead of treating the constituents with food and drink, Russell donated £2,000 for the new county infirmary.

Supporters of Tavistock and Pym organized to help voters to get to the polling place without expense.

Tavistock recounted: 'The Tories are now the strongest party in this county and it must be admitted in fairness that they gave their exclusive support to Macqueen. We have no right to say therefore that he has been returned by the influence of money or corruption alone, and although he got two or three hundred votes by bringing them to the poll, I cannot allow myself to blame the freeholders who sell themselves for a tenth ticket, a part chance or a bottle of wine. The fault of having corrupted them is with Osborn and me, and if I have seen my error only lately it is no wonder that they should not yet be reformed'.

Macqueen and Tavistock were returned as Knights of the Shire.