1774

Dates: Monday 10 Oct. 1774.

Poll book reference: The state of the poll... (Northampton: Cluer & Thomas Dicey, 1774).

The 1768 election changed the balance of power in Northampton, as the earl of Halifax was financially ruined by the expense of the contest, withdrawing from Northampton's politics entirely. The earl of Northampton left his seat for Europe, where living expenses were notably lower. From that point, Lord Northampton's agent and Lord Spencer jointly determined Northampton's candidates.

In 1774, Candidates: Wilbraham Tollemache (Whig), Sir George Robinson (Whig), and Sir James Langham (Tory).

Wilbraham Tollemache of Calveley Hall was a returning candidate, having been recently elected during the by-election of 1771, following the death of Thomas Howe. He was the son of the 4th earl of Dysart and a cousin of the 1st earl Spencer, who supported his candidacy.

Meanwhile, Lord Northampton put forward his uncle, Henry Drummond, a banker. However, the requirement for Drummond to pay bills from the 1768 election meant that he dropped out of the race.

According to Lord Northampton's agent, 'the borough went a-begging' before landing on Sir George Robinson of Cranford. He had previously been the Sheriff of Northamptonshire in the 1760s. He was described as 'an honest, independent country gentleman of Whig principles and inclined to Opposition', and ran on his own interest in 1774.

Sir James Langham was a Lieutenant Colonel in the British army and had also served as Sheriff of Northamptonshire in the 1760s. He joined the campaign quite late in the race, and 'to the astonishment of all reasonable beings, declared himself after most people had engaged themselves'.

Tollemache and Robinson were elected for the borough. Following the chairing, Lord Northampton's agent recalled, 'Thus ended this disagreeable affair. The returned Members gave not any treat or liquors after their chairing, for which their own mob broke their windows for them at the George. Sir James gave his friends an elegant entertainment, and has since repeated it at Cottesbrooke. Lord Spencer is come to Althorp to spend his Christmas and is going to do great things at Northampton, they say as far as £2,000. What Sir George is to do I have not yet heard'.