1780

Date: Saturday 9 Sept. 1780.

Poll book reference: The poll for the election... (Cambridge: Francis Hodson, [1780]).

The poll book gives the total electorate as 753, of which 207 did not vote (73 per cent turnout).

Candidates: James Mansfield (Whig); John Townshend (Whig); Thomas Villiers, Lord Hyde (Government Tory); Richard Croftes (Grafton Whig); and William Pitt (Tory).

Connected to King's College, James Mansfield was a lawyer who had recently been elected for the university during the 1779 by-election. His campaign had been supported by the chancellor, the duke of Grafton.

John Townshend was a Whig and close friend of Charles James Fox and the son of the 1st Marquess Townshend, who was connected to St John's College, Cambridge.

Lord Hyde stood for both Helston and the University of Cambridge during the 1780 general election. His campaign was nominally supported by Lord North's government, though the Prime Minister viewed Lord Hyde's candidacy with skepticism, saying, 'I do not like to put the King to the expense of £3,000 to bring in so uncertain a supporter as Lord Hyde'.

Like Mansfield, Richard Croftes was also supported by the chancellor, the duke of Grafton. He was the incumbent candidate, having been returned for the constituency since 1771.

The younger son of the former Prime Minister, Lord Chatham, William Pitt the Younger was only 21 years old and on the brink of entering the political world. His campaign was supported by the duke of Rutland.

The election returned Mansfield and Townshend as MPs for the University of Cambridge.