City of London (Parliament of England constituency) explained

City of London
Type:borough
Parliament:uk
Year:1298
Abolished:1950

The City of London was a parliamentary constituency of the Parliament of England until 1707.

Boundaries and history to 1707

This borough constituency consisted of the City of London, which was the historic core of the modern Greater London. In the twenty-first century, the City forms part of the London Region of England.

The southern boundary of the city is the north bank of the River Thames. The City of Westminster is situated to the west. The districts of Holborn and Finsbury are to the north, Shoreditch to the north-east and Whitechapel to the east.

Before 1298, the area was represented as part of the county constituency of Middlesex. The City formed part of the geographic county, even though from early times it was not administered as part of Middlesex.

London is first known to have been enfranchised and represented in Parliament in 1298. It was the most important city in England and was administered as a county of itself from before boroughs were first represented in Parliament. It received four seats in Parliament instead of the normal two for an English constituency. The extra two seats (whose holders were known as knights, like the representatives of a county) were supposed to represent the county-like status of London. No such extra seats were awarded to other cities or boroughs which received the status of being counties of themselves in later times.

By the sixteenth century it was the practice for the Court of Aldermen to summon a meeting at the Guildhall. The aldermen met and selected two candidates to sit as the city's knights in Parliament. One was normally an alderman (probably a former Lord Mayor of London). The other was normally the Recorder of London, whose legal expertise was essential to the City which had a lot of legislation it wanted drafted and passed by Parliament. On one occasion in the sixteenth century the Recorder was already a burgess representing another borough in Parliament, so two aldermen were chosen.

The aldermen also prepared a list of twelve prominent Londoners, who were not themselves aldermen. The nominees for knight were then put to the liverymen, who had been waiting whilst the aldermen met, for approval and an election was held to select two citizens from the list of twelve nominees to fill the other two seats in the House of Commons. The London election thus took place in a single day.

If the Recorder resigned during a Parliament or a citizen was elected an alderman, he was disqualified and the new Recorder or another citizen (as the case might require) was elected.

At some point after 1603 the City adopted a more normal system for nominations and elections. The two London Sheriffs appointed a day for candidates nominations to be submitted, at a meeting in the Guildhall. If there were more than four candidates a poll was held at a later date which usually extended for several weeks. Although it was no longer a legal requirement, there was a custom that two City seats were filled by Aldermen and two by non-Aldermen.

During the Protectorate the city was allocated six seats in the House of Commons, under the terms of the Instrument of Government adopted on 15 December 1653. However, by the time the Third Protectorate Parliament assembled in 1659 the constituency had reverted to its traditional four seats.

The City of London was a densely populated area in the period up to 1707. The composition of the City electorate was not as democratic as that of some other borough constituencies, such as neighbouring Westminster. The right of election was held by members of the livery companies. However, the size and wealth of the community meant that it had more voters than most other borough constituencies. Only Westminster had a larger borough electorate. Duke Henning estimated the City liverymen at about 4,000 in 1661 and about 6,000 by 1680.

Members of the House of Commons

Some of the members elected during this period have been identified. The Roman numerals in brackets, following some names, are those used to distinguish different politicians of the same name in 'The House of Commons' 1509-1558 and 1558–1603. As there are considerable gaps between some of the parliaments in this period, each members career is sub-divided by parliament in the tables, even if he served in successive parliaments.

The elected date is for the City constituency. When an exact general election date is unavailable, the year or years between the dates of the parliament being summoned and assembling, are used.

1298–1385

Parliament[1] [2] [3] Aldermanic MPs by year
1298Adam le Blund de Fulham
Walter de Finchingfeld
1299William de Leyre
William de Betoyne
1300Geoffrey de Northampton
William de Betoyne
1305William de Combemartyn
Walter de Finchingfeld
1307William de Combemartyn
1309Henry de Durham
William Servat
1312John de Wengrave
Robert de Kelesye; Nicholas de Farndone
1313William Servat
Stephen de Abyndon; Nicholas de Farndone; William de Leyre
1314John de Gisors
Robert de Kelesye; William de Leyre
1315Henry de Durham
William de Leyre
1316William de Combemartyn
William Trente; John de la Chambre; Hamo de Chigwell; Robert de Kelesye; Simon de Abyndon; Roger de Palmer; John de Bureford
1318John de Cherleton
Roger de Palmer
1319William de Leyre
William de Flete
1320Anketin de Gisors
Nicholas de Farndone
1321Hamo de Godchep
Nicholas de Farndone
1322 (May)Robert de Swalclyve
Reginald de Conduit; William de Hakford; Gregory de Norton
1322 (Nov)Thomas de Chetyngdone
Walter Crepyn
1324Anketin de Gisors
Henry de Seccheford
1325Anketin de Gisors
Henry de Seccheford
1327 (Jan)Anketin de Gisors
1327 (Sep)Benedict de Folesham
Robert de Kelesye
1328 (Feb)Richard de Betoyne
John de Grantham
1328 (Apr)Richard de Betoyne
Robert de Kelesye
1328 (Oct)Stephen de Abyngdon
Robert de Kelesye
1330 (Mar)Stephen de Abyngdon
John de Caustone;
1330 (Nov)John de Grantham
1332Anketin de Gisors (twice); Reginald de Conduit; John de Caustone (twice); Richard de la Pole
1334Reginald de Conduit
John de Caustone; Roger de Depeham
1335Richard de Rothyng
Richard le Lacer; Roger de Forsham
1336Henry de Seccheford
Richard de Hakeneie; John de Caustone
1337Reginald de Conduit (twice); John de Caustone; Benedict de Folesham
1338John de Grantham
Richard de Rothyng; Andrew Aubrey; Ralph de Uptone (twice); Bartholomew Deumars
1339Somin Francis (twice); John de Northall
1340Richard de Rothyng
Andrew Aubrey; Richard de Berkynge; Walter de Mordone; Simon Francis; John de Mockyng; William (Curteys) de Bricklesworth (twice)
1341Simon Francis
William (Curteys) de Bricklesworth
1344John de Northall
John Lovekyn
1346Thomas Legge
Geoffrey de Wychingham; John Lovekyn
1348Richard de Berkynge (twice); John Lovekyn (twice)
1350Simon Francis
Thomas Dolseley
1351Thomas Legge
William de Iford (Common Serjeant)
1352Simon Francis
Adam Francis; John Little
1353Thomas Dolseley
Thomas Legge
1354John de Stodeye
Thomas Dolseley
1355Adam Francis
John de Stodeye
1357Adam Francis
John de Stodeye
1358William de Welde
Thomas Dolseley
1360Bartholomew de Frestlyng
Stephen Cavendisshe; Walter de Berneye
1361John Pecche
Adam Francis; John Pyel
1362Adam de Bury
Bartholomew de Frestlyng; John Little; John Tornegold
1363William Holbech
John de St. Albans; John Tornegold
1365John Lovekyn
Adam Francis; Richard de Preston
1366Adam Francis
John Wroth
1368Bartholomew de Frestlyng
John Wroth; John Aubrey; John Organ
1369John Pecche
Adam Francis; John de Stodeye; John Tornegold; John Aubrey; John Philpot; John Hadley;Nicholas Exton
1371Bartholomew de Frestlyng
John Tornegold; William Walworth; John Philpot (twice); John Pecche; John Tornegold; John Fyfhide
1372John Pecche
John Wroth
  • William Venour
  • 1373John Warde
    Adam Stable
  • Adam Carlisle
  • 1376William Walworth
    John Pyel; Adam Carlisle
    1377John Organ
    John Hadley; William Walworth; John Philpot; Adam Carlisle; Walter Sibyle; William Tonge; William Venour
    1378John Northampton
    John Hadley; William Venour; Geoffrey Newton
    1379William More
    Adam Carlisle; John Hadley; Walter Sibyle
    1380Robert Launde
    Thomas Cornwaleys
  • John Philpot; John Organ; John Boseham; Thomas Welford; William Tonge; John Rote
  • 1381Hugh Fastolf
    William Baret; John Philpot; John Hadley
    1382 (May)Hugh Fastolf?; John More; Thomas Carleton; Richard Norbury
    1383Nicholas Brembre
    William Baret; William Walworth; John Philpot; John More; Henry Vanner; Richard Norbury
    1384John Hadley (twice); John Organ (twice); John Rote; Thomas Rolf
    1385John Hadley
    Nicholas Exton; William Anecroft

    1386–1421

    Parliament[4] First memberSecond memberThird memberFourth member
    1386John HadleyJohn OrganAdam CarlisleThomas Girdler
    February 1388William MoreJohn ShadworthWilliam BaretJohn Walcote
    September 1388Adam BammeHenry VannerWilliam TongeJohn Clenhand
    January 1390William MoreJohn ShadworthAdam CarlisleWilliam Brampton
    November 1390John ShadworthAdam CarlisleWilliam Brampton
    1391William SheringhamWilliam BramptonWilliam StandonJohn Walcote
    1394 William StandonJohn FressheThomas ExtonJohn Wade
    1395Adam CarlisleDrew BarantynGeoffrey WaldernWilliam Askham
    January 1397William StandonWilliam BramptonWilliam HydeHugh Short
    September 1397Andrew NewportDrew BarantynRobert AshcombeWilliam Chichele
    1399John ShadworthWilliam BramptonWilliam SunningwellRichard Marlow
    1402John HadleyWilliam ParkerJohn ProphetWilliam Norton
    1404 (Jan)William Standon[5] Drew BarantynWilliam MarchfordJohn Prophet
    1404 (Oct)John WoodcockWilliam BramptonAlan EverardRobert Haxton
    1406William StandonNicholas WottonJohn SudburyHugh Ryebread
    1407William AskhamWilliam CromerWilliam MarchfordJohn Bryan
    1410Drew BarantynHenry HaltonJohn ReynwellWalter Gawtron
    1411Thomas FauconerRichard MarlowJohn SuttonJohn Mitchell
    1413 (Feb)William AskhamDrew BarantynWilliam MarchfordWalter Gawtron
    1413 (May)William AskhamDrew BarantynWilliam MarchfordWalter Gawtron
    1414 (Apr)Richard MarlowRobert ChicheleWilliam BurtonAllan Everard
    1414 (Nov)William WalderneNicholas WottonWilliam OliverJohn Gedham
    1415Robert ChicheleWilliam WalderneJohn ReynwellWilliam Mitchell
    1416 (Mar)Richard MarlowThomas FauconerWilliam WestonNicholas James
    1416 (Oct)Richard WhittingtonThomas KnollysJohn PerneysRobert Whittingham
    1417William CromerWilliam SeveoakJohn Welles[6] John Butler
    1419Nicholas WottonHenry BartonRichard MeryvaleSimon Sewall
    1420Thomas FauconerJohn MitchellSolomon OxneyJohn Higham
    1421 (May)William WalderneWilliam CromerWilliam BurtonRichard Goslyn
    1421 (Dec)Thomas FauconerNicholas WottonJohn BrokleyJohn Whatley

    1422–1508

    ParliamentAldermanic MPs by year
    1422Thomas Fauconer
    John Michell
  • Henry Frowick
  • 1423John Welles
    Thomas Fauconer;Henry Frowick
    1425John Welles
    Nicholas Wotton;Thomas Bernewell
    1426John Welles
    John Michell
    1427John Welles
    John Michell;William Melreth
    1429Nicholas Wotton
    William Melreth
    1431Nicholas James
    William Eastfield
    1432John Gedney
    William Melreth
  • Philip Malpas
  • 1433John Welles
    John Reynwell
  • Robert Catworth
  • 1435John Michell
    Robert Large
  • Stephen Forster
  • 1437Henry Frowick
    Robert Catworth
  • Nicholas Yoo
  • 1439William Eastfield
    Robert Clopton
  • Geoffrey Fielding
  • 1442William Eastfield
    Philip Malpas
    1445John Reynwell
    Robert Catworth
    1447Henry Frowick
    William Combes
  • William Marlowe
  • Hugh Wiche
  • 1449Robert Catworth
    Stephen Browne
  • John Norman (twice);Geoffrey Boleyn
  • 1450Henry Frowick
    William Marlow
  • Richard Lee
  • 1453Stephen Browne
    John Atherley
  • William Cantelow
  • John Walderne
  • John Middleton
  • 1455Geoffrey Fielding
    William Cantelow
  • John Yonge
  • 1459Thomas Canynges
    Ralph Verney
  • Richard Fleming
  • John Bromer
  • 1460William Marlow
    Thomas Cooke
  • Robert Bassett
  • 1463William Marlow
    John Bromer
    1467Ralph Josselyn
    John Warde
  • John Crosby
  • 1469Ralph Verney
    George Irlond
  • Stephen Fabyan
  • 1470Thomas Cooke
    Stephen Fabyan
    1472Ralph Verney
    George Irlond
  • Stephen Fabyan
  • 1478William Hampton
    Richard Gardiner
  • John Warde
  • 1483William Taillour
    Richard Haryot
  • Robert Tate (twice);John Fenkyll;Hugh Clopton
  • 1484Richard Haryot
    John Fenkyll
    1485John Warde
    1487Henry Colet
    Hugh Pemberton
    1489William White
    Henry Colet
    1491Robert Tate
    William Capel
  • Nicholas Ailwyn
  • 1495John Warde
    John Shaa;Thomas Bradbury
    1497Richard Chawry
    Thomas Wyndout
    1503John Tate
    John Shaa

    Parliaments of King Henry VIII of England

    No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
    1st 17 October 1509 1509/10 21 January 1510 23 February 1510
    2nd 28 November 1511 1511/12 4 February 1512 4 March 1514
    3rd 23 November 1514 1514/15 5 February 1515 22 December 1515
    4th ... ?1523 15 April 1523 13 August 1523
    9 August 1529 1529 3 November 1529 14 April 1536
    6th 27 April 1536 1536 8 June 1536 18 July 1536
    7th 1 March 1539 1539 28 April 1539 24 July 1540
    8th 23 November 1541 1541/42 16 January 1542 28 March 1544
    9th 1 December 1544 19 January 1545 23 November 1545 31 January 1547
    No.Elected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
    1st 1509/10 John Chaloner [I] John Brydges
    1510 Thomas More [I]
    2nd 1511/12 Sir William Capell John Kyme [I]
    3rd 1514/15 Sir William Capell John Kyme [I]
    1515 unknown
    4th ?1523 William Roche
    5th 1529 John Baker [I] Paul Withypoll
    18 February 1533 William Bowyer
    ?1534 Sir Roger Cholmley known as Sir Roger Cholmeley
    27 October 1534 Robert Pakington
    1535 unknown
    6th 1536 unknown unknown unknown
    7th 1539 Paul Withypoll
    8th 1541/42 Nicholas Wilford
    9th 19 January 1545 Paul Withypoll
    February 1545 Sir William Forman
    February 1545 Sir Richard Gresham
    17 November 1545 Robert Broke

    Notes:

    Parliaments of King Edward VI of England

    No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
    1st 2 August 1547 1547 4 November 1547 15 April 1552
    2nd 5 January 1553 1553 1 March 1553 31 March 1553
    NoElected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
    1st 1547 Thomas Bacon
    4 March 1552 John Blundell
    2nd 1553John Blundell

    Note:-

    Parliaments of Queen Mary I of England

    No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
    1st 14 August 1553 1553 5 October 1553 5 December 1553
    2nd 17 February 1554 1554 2 April 1554 3 May 1554
    3rd 3 October 1554 1554 12 November 1554 16 January 1555
    4th 3 September 1555 1555 21 October 1555 9 December 1555
    5th 6 December 1557 1557/58 20 January 1558 17 November 1558
    NoElected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
    1st 1553 John Blundell
    2nd 1554 John Blundell
    3rd 1554 Richard Burnell
    4th 1555 Nicholas Chowne
    5th 1558 Richard Grafton

    Parliaments of Queen Elizabeth I of England

    No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
    1st 5 December 1558 9 January 1559 23 January 1559 8 May 1559
    2nd 10 November 1562 December 1562 11 January 1563 2 January 1567
    3rd ... March 1571 2 April 1571 29 May 1571
    4th 28 March 1572 April 1572 8 May 1572 19 April 1583
    5th 12 October 1584 22 October 1584 23 November 1584 14 September 1585
    6th 15 September 1586 3 October 1586 15 October 1586 23 March 1587
    7th 18 September 1588 1 October 1588 4 February 1589 29 March 1589
    8th 4 January 1593 27 November 1592 18 February 1593 10 April 1593
    9th 23 August 1597 3 or 4 October 1597 24 October 1597 9 February 1598
    10th 11 September 1601 6 October 1601 27 October 1601 19 December 1601
    NoElected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
    1st 9 January 1559 Richard Hills
    2nd December 1562 John Marshe
    October 1566 Sir John White
    3rd March 1571 Thomas Norton
    4th April 1572 William FleetwoodThomas Norton
    7 October 1579 Thomas Aldersey
    5th 22 October 1584 Walter Fish
    September 1585 Henry Billingsley
    6th 3 October 1586 William FleetwoodRichard Saltonstall
    7th 1 October 1588 Andrew Palmer
    8th 27 November 1592 George Southerton
    9th 3 or 4 October 1597 John Croke [III] Thomas Fettiplace
    10th 6 October 1601 John Croke [III] John Pynder

    Notes:-

    Parliaments of King James I of England

    No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
    1st 31 January 1604 1604 19 March 1604 9 February 1611
    ... ?1614 5 April 1614 7 June 1614
    3rd 13 November 1620 1620/21 16 January 1621 8 February 1622
    4th 20 December 1623 1623/24 12 February 1624 27 March 1625
    No.Elected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
    1st 1604Richard Gore
    2nd 1614Sir Thomas Lowe
    3rd 1621Sir Thomas Lowe
    4th 1624Martin Bond

    Parliaments of King Charles I of England

    No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
    1st 2 April 1625 1625 17 May 1625 12 August 1625
    2nd 20 December 1625 1625/26 6 February 1626 15 June 1626
    3rd 31 January 1628 1628 17 March 1628 10 March 1629
    20 February 1640 1640 13 April 1640 5 May 1640
    24 September 1640 1640 3 November 1640 16 March 1660
    No.Elected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
    1st 1625Martin Bond
    2nd 1626Sir Maurice Abbot
    3rd 1628James Bunce
    4th 1640Matthew Cradock
    5th 1640Sir Thomas Soame
    (excluded 1648)
    Samuel Vassall
    (excluded 1648)
    Matthew Cradock (died 1641)
    John Venn (died 1650)

    Parliaments of the Commonwealth

    The Long Parliament or the selection of members from it known as the Rump Parliament functioned de facto during part of the Commonwealth of England period. It existed (in a sense) de jure 1640–1660, as under a pre-English Civil War law, the Long Parliament could not be lawfully dissolved without its own consent which it did not give until 1660. As it was a parliament originally summoned by King Charles I, the overall dates of the Long Parliament are given in the previous section.

    The Barebones Parliament was an appointed body, so the city was not an electoral constituency represented as such in it. That body was summoned on 20 June 1653, first met on 4 July 1653 and was dissolved on 12 December 1653.

    Parliaments of the Protectorate

    During the Protectorate the city was allocated six representatives in the First and the Second Protectorate Parliaments, before reverting to four for the Third Protectorate Parliament.

    No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
    1st1 June 1654 1654 3 September 1654 22 January 1655
    2nd10 July 1656 1656 17 September 1656 4 February 1658
    3rd9 December 1658 1658/5927 January 1659 22 April 1659
    Year1st member2nd member3rd member4th member5th member6th member
    1654Andrew Riccard
    1656John Jones
    1659John Jones

    Knights and Citizens serving 1660–1707

    Key to parties: T Tory; W Whig.

    FromToNameBornDied
    16601660William Wildec. 161123 November 1679
    16601660Richard Brownec. 161024 September 1669
    16601660John Robinson10 January 1615February 1680
    16601660William Vincentc. 16151661
    16611662John Fowkec. 159622 April 1662
    16611679Sir William Thompson10 April 1614c. April 1681
    16611681William Lovec. 16201 May 1689
    16611679John Jonesc. 161021 May 1692
    16631679Sir John Frederick25 October 160119 March 1685
    16791681Sir Robert Clayton29 September 162916 July 1707
    16791681Sir Thomas Player...14 June 1686
    16791681Thomas Pilkington30 March 162816 November 1691
    16851687Sir John Moore11 June 16202 June 1702
    16851687Sir William Prichardc. 163218 February 1705
    16851687Sir Samuel Dashwoodc. 164312 August 1705
    16851687Sir Peter Richc. 163026 August 1692
    16891690Sir Patience Ward7 December 162910 July 1696
    16891690Sir Robert Clayton29 September 162916 July 1707
    16891689William Lovec. 16201 May 1689
    16891690Thomas Pilkington30 March 162816 November 1691
    16891690Sir William Ashhurst26 April 164712 January 1720
    16901695Sir William Prichardc. 163218 February 1705
    16901695Sir Samuel Dashwoodc. 164312 August 1705
    16901693Sir William Turner12 September 16159 February 1693
    16901695Sir Thomas Vernon10 December 163110 February 1711
    16931701Sir John Fleet18 March 16486 July 1712
    16951698Sir Robert Clayton29 September 162916 July 1707
    16951702Sir William Ashhurst26 April 164712 January 1720
    16951701Thomas Papillon6 September 16235 May 1702
    16981701Sir James Houblon26 July 1629October 1700
    17011702Sir Robert Clayton29 September 162916 July 1707
    17011701Sir William Withers (T)c. 165431 January 1721
    17011701Gilbert Heathcote2 January 165225 January 1733
    17011701Sir John Fleet18 March 16486 July 1712
    17011702Sir Thomas AbneyJanuary 16406 February 1722
    17011707Sir Gilbert Heathcote2 January 165225 January 1733
    17021705Sir William Prichardc. 163218 February 1705
    17021705Sir John Fleet18 March 16486 July 1712
    17021705Sir Francis Child14 December 16424 October 1713
    17051707Sir Robert Clayton29 September 162916 July 1707
    17051707Samuel Shepheardc. 16484 January 1719
    17051707Sir William Ashhurst26 April 164712 January 1720

    Notes:-

    Elections

    Election dates 1660–1710

    Dates of general and by-elections from 1660 (excluding some general elections at which no new MP was returned).

    • 27 Mar 1660 GE
    • 19 Mar 1661 GE
    • 10 Feb 1663 BE
    • 17 Feb 1679 GE
    • 7 Oct 1679 GE
    • 4 Feb 1681 GE
    • 15 May 1685 GE
    • 9 Jan 1689 GE
    • 14 May 1689 BE
    • 11 Mar 1690
    • 2 Mar 1693
    • 25 Oct 1695
    • 30 Jul 1698
    • 1 Feb 1701
    • 20 Mar 1701
    • 24 Nov 1701
    • 18 Aug 1702
    • 17 May 1705
    • 16 Dec 1707
    • 14 May 1708
    • 16 Nov 1710

    Election results 1660–1690

    See also

    References

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Chronological list of aldermen: 1222-1300 | British History Online. british-history.ac.uk.
    2. Web site: Chronological list of aldermen: 1302-1400 | British History Online. british-history.ac.uk.
    3. Web site: Aldermen in Parliament | British History Online. british-history.ac.uk.
    4. Web site: London | History of Parliament Online. historyofparliamentonline.org.
    5. Web site: STANDON, William (d.1410), of Wimpole, Cambs. and London. | History of Parliament Online. historyofparliamentonline.org.
    6. Web site: Members Constituencies Parliaments Surveys . WELLES, John III (d.1442), of London. . History of Parliament Online . 2012-08-09.