May
1784
Bristol
Contested
GENERAL ELECTION
Poll book data from:
Citation: The Bristol poll book… (Bristol: William Pine, [1784])
Source: John Sims (ed.), A Handlist of British Parliamentary Poll Books (Leicester, 1984); Jeremy Gibson and Colin Rogers (eds.), Poll Books, 1696–1872: A Directory of Holdings in Great Britain (4th edn., Bury, 2008).
Timeline & Key Statistics
Contexts & Remarks
Dates: Saturday 3 Apr.-Saturday 8 May 1784.
Poll book reference: The Bristol poll book... (Bristol: William Pine, [1784]).
Candidates: Matthew Brickdale (Whig); Henry Cruger (Radical); George Daubeny (Tory); and Samuel Peach (Radical).
By the 1780s, Henry Cruger observed that, 'the nominal distinction of parties by the appellation of Whig and Tory, and blues and yellows, which has long prevailed in Bristol, be no longer remembered or adopted by this meeting' (Bristol Journal 10 Apr. 1784).
Matthew Brickdale, a clothier and undertaker, had been MP for Bristol since 1768. His father had been a leader of the Steadfast Society, which organised Tory interests in the city. Brickdale ran in harness with George Daubeny, and aligned himself with the Whigs in Westminster. He was supported by the Steadfast Society.
George Daubeny, a businessman involved in sugar refining, glass manufacturing and banking, was a had been put forward by the Steadfast Society and elected in the 1781 by-election. He ran in harnessin harness with Matthew Brickdale, and aligned himself with the Whigs in Westminster. He was again supported by the Steadfast Society.
Henry Cruger, born in New York, came from a family of American merchants. Through marriage, he was also connected to Samuel Peach, a wealthy linen merchant and leading radical in Bristol. He had been elected as MP for Bristol in 1774, but lost in the 1780 general election and 1781 by-election. He ran in absentia (being in America), in harness with Samuel Peach, his father-in-law. He supported the Pittite government and was supported by the Union Club. Samuel Peach was Henry Cruger's father-in-law and leading member of the Steadfast Society. He supported the Pittite government and was supported by the Union Club.
Brickdale and Cruger were returned as MPs for Bristol. Following the election, a resolution was passed indicating that, 'the nominal distinction of parties by the appellation of Whig and Tory, and blues and yellows, which has long prevailed in Bristol, be no longer remembered or adopted by this meeting' (Bristol Jnl. 10 Apr. 1784)
Poll Book
Below is a digitised version of the poll book for this election:
