1784

Dates: Wednesday 7 Apr. 1784. ????

Poll book reference: The poll at the last general election... (Northampton: T. Dicey & Co., 1784).

Candidates: Charles Compton, Lord Compton (Tory); Fiennes Trotman (Tory); and Charles Bingham, Baron Lucan (Whig).

The constituents of Northampton severely disapproved of the Coalition of 1783, which was dissolved in advance of this election. Lord Spencer, who was a supporter of the coalition, consequently found himself at odds with the borough. He wrote to his mother, 'We labour under several disadvantages, the first great one the present state of public affairs and the general infatuation that is spread abroad, especially among the lower sort, in favour of the present ministry' (Spencer Mss). Lord Spencer's candidate was Charles Bingham, Baron Lucan, who did not prove a popular choice for the constituents. A deputation approached Lord Spencer asking for him to support another candidate, though Baron Lucan refused to stand down. Lord Spencer's father-in-law, Baron Lucan was a returning candidate, having been elected during the 1782 by-election.

Fiennes Trotman of Siston was a wealthy resident of Northampton who stood on the corporation's interest, hostile to Lord Spencer and his candidate. He was described by Lord Spencer as 'a little man who lives in the town and was formerly a silk weaver but having lately had a fortune of six or seven thousand pounds left him is living away upon it' (Spencer Mss).

Charles Compton, Lord Compton was the son of the 8th earl of Northampton.

The election easily returned Compton and Trotman. On the loss of his candidate, Lord Spencer declared, 'I never will on any account have anything to do with Northampton again as long as I live'.