June
1790
liverpool
Contested
GENERAL ELECTION
In the general election of June 1790, 1959 people voted. There were 4 candidates, with Bamber Gascoyne & Banastre Tarleton elected.
Poll book data from:
Citation: The poll for the election… (Liverpool: T. Johnson, [1790])
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); L. W. L. Edwards (ed.), Catalogue of Directories and Poll Books in the Possession of the Society of Genealogists (4th edn., 1984).
Timeline & Key Statistics
Contexts & Remarks
- Despite their contrary politics, a coalition between the sitting members, Bamber Gascoyne and Richard Pennant, Lord Penrhyn, almost resulted in an uncontested election. Gascoyne was a Pittite and corporation candidate, while Penrhyn was a Foxite and representative of the independent freemen. Banastre Tarleton initially declined to stand against this seemingly formidable opposition, preferring instead to assist Charles James Fox's election at Westminster. However, he was summoned back to Liverpool after a popular clamour, and topped the poll, with Gascoyne securing the second seat. It was reported on 21 June that 'Nothing is heard in the streets but Tarleton, Freedom, and no Coalition' (Public Advertiser, Issue 17462 [25 June 1790]). A fourth candidate named Thomas Townley Parker emerged purely to assist Tarleton, but received only 4 votes. Penrhyn retired from the contest on the second day of polling, but his supporters continued the poll on his behalf.
- On 23 June, about twenty minutes before the close of the poll for that day, 'several stones were thrown by some persons, and an alarming riot ensued, but happily soon ended with a few legs and arms being broke, and one man had his nose broke with a large stone. However, by the exertions of Colonel Tarleton, and a few other Gentlemen, the mob was a little quietened, but the poll was obliged to be closed before the Colonel's tally had finished polling.' ( St. James's Chronicle, or, British Evening Post, Issue 4553 [24?26 June 1790]).
- The first 76 pages of the poll book are composed of the various papers, addresses, songs, and other printed election literature produced during the contest.
Poll Book
Below is a digitised version of the poll book for this election:
