City of London (Parliament of England constituency)


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 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. 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 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.

14th/15th-century

1298–1385http://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/london-aldermen/hen3-1912/pp371-379http://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/london-aldermen/hen3-1912/pp379-404http://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/london-aldermen/hen3-1912/pp261-297#h3-0099

1386–1421http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/constituencies/london

1422–1508

Parliaments of King Henry VIII of England

No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
1st17 October 15091509/1021 January 151023 February 1510
2nd28 November 15111511/124 February 15124 March 1514
3rd23 November 15141514/155 February 151522 December 1515
4th...?152315 April 152313 August 1523
5th9 August 152915293 November 152914 April 1536
6th27 April 153615368 June 153618 July 1536
7th1 March 1539153928 April 153924 July 1540
8th23 November 15411541/4216 January 154228 March 1544
9th1 December 154419 January 154523 November 154531 January 1547

No.Elected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
1st1509/10Sir John TateJohn Chaloner James YarfordJohn Brydges
1st1510Sir John TateJohn Chaloner Thomas More John Brydges
2nd1511/12Sir William CapellRichard BrokeWilliam CalleyJohn Kyme
3rd1514/15Sir William CapellRichard BrokeWilliam CalleyJohn Kyme
3rd1515Sir William CapellRichard BrokeunknownJohn Kyme
4th?1523George MonouxWilliam ShelleyJohn HewsterWilliam Roche
5th1529Sir Thomas SeymourJohn Baker John PetytPaul Withypoll
5th18 February 1533Sir Thomas SeymourJohn Baker William BowyerPaul Withypoll
5th?1534Sir Thomas SeymourSir Roger Cholmley known as Sir Roger CholmeleyWilliam BowyerPaul Withypoll
5th27 October 1534Sir Thomas SeymourSir Roger Cholmley known as Sir Roger CholmeleyRobert PakingtonPaul Withypoll
5th1535unknownSir Roger Cholmley known as Sir Roger CholmeleyRobert PakingtonPaul Withypoll
6th1536unknownSir Roger Cholmley known as Sir Roger Cholmeleyunknownunknown
7th1539Sir Richard GreshamSir Roger Cholmley known as Sir Roger Cholmeley?Richard FermorPaul Withypoll
8th1541/42Sir William RocheSir Roger Cholmley known as Sir Roger CholmeleyJohn SturgeonNicholas Wilford
9th19 January 1545Sir William RocheSir Roger Cholmley known as Sir Roger CholmeleyJohn SturgeonPaul Withypoll
9thFebruary 1545Sir William FormanSir Roger Cholmley known as Sir Roger CholmeleyJohn SturgeonPaul Withypoll
9thFebruary 1545Sir Richard GreshamSir Roger Cholmley known as Sir Roger CholmeleyJohn SturgeonPaul Withypoll
9th17 November 1545Sir Richard GreshamRobert BrokeJohn SturgeonPaul Withypoll

Notes:

Parliaments of King Edward VI of England

No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
1st2 August 154715474 November 154715 April 1552
2nd5 January 155315531 March 155331 March 1553

NoElected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
1st1547Sir Martin BowesRobert BrokeThomas CurteysThomas Bacon
1st4 March 1552Sir Martin BowesRobert BrokeJohn BlundellThomas Bacon
2nd1553Sir Martin BowesRobert BrokeJohn MarsheJohn Blundell

Note:-

Parliaments of Queen Mary I of England

No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
1st14 August 155315535 October 15535 December 1553
2nd17 February 155415542 April 15543 May 1554
3rd3 October 1554155412 November 155416 January 1555
4th3 September 1555155521 October 15559 December 1555
5th6 December 15571557/5820 January 155817 November 1558

NoElected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
1st1553Sir Rowland HillRobert BrokeJohn MarsheJohn Blundell
2nd1554Sir Martin BowesRobert BrokeJohn MarsheJohn Blundell
3rd1554Sir Martin BowesRalph CholmleyRichard GraftonRichard Burnell
4th1555Sir Martin BowesRalph CholmleyPhilip BoldNicholas Chowne
5th1558Sir William GarrardRalph CholmleyJohn MarsheRichard Grafton

Parliaments of Queen Elizabeth I of England

No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
1st5 December 15589 January 155923 January 15598 May 1559
2nd10 November 1562December 156211 January 15632 January 1567
3rd...March 15712 April 157129 May 1571
4th28 March 1572April 15728 May 157219 April 1583
5th12 October 158422 October 158423 November 158414 September 1585
6th15 September 15863 October 158615 October 158623 March 1587
7th18 September 15881 October 15884 February 158929 March 1589
8th4 January 159327 November 159218 February 159310 April 1593
9th23 August 15973 or 4 October 159724 October 15979 February 1598
10th11 September 16016 October 160127 October 160119 December 1601

NoElected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
1st9 January 1559Sir Martin BowesRalph CholmleyJohn MarsheRichard Hills
2ndDecember 1562Sir Martin BowesRalph CholmleyLawrence WithersJohn Marshe
2ndOctober 1566Sir Martin BowesSir John WhiteLawrence WithersJohn Marshe
3rdMarch 1571Sir John WhiteThomas WilbrahamJohn MarsheThomas Norton
4thApril 1572Sir Rowland HaywardWilliam FleetwoodJohn MarsheThomas Norton
4th7 October 1579Sir Rowland HaywardWilliam FleetwoodThomas AlderseyThomas Norton
5th22 October 1584Sir Nicholas WoodrofeWilliam FleetwoodThomas AlderseyWalter Fish
5thSeptember 1585Sir Nicholas WoodrofeWilliam FleetwoodThomas AlderseyHenry Billingsley
6th3 October 1586Sir Edward OsborneWilliam FleetwoodThomas AlderseyRichard Saltonstall
7th1 October 1588Sir George BarneWilliam FleetwoodThomas AlderseyAndrew Palmer
8th27 November 1592Sir John HartEdward DrewAndrew PalmerGeorge Southerton
9th3 or 4 October 1597Sir John HartJohn Croke George SouthertonThomas Fettiplace
10th6 October 1601Sir Stephen SoameJohn Croke Thomas FettiplaceJohn Pynder

Notes:-

Parliaments of King James I of England

No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
1st31 January 1604160419 March 16049 February 1611
2nd...?16145 April 16147 June 1614
3rd13 November 16201620/2116 January 16218 February 1622
4th20 December 16231623/2412 February 162427 March 1625

No.Elected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
1st1604Nicholas FullerSir Henry MontagueSir Henry BillingsleyRichard Gore
2nd1614Nicholas FullerSir Henry MontagueRobert MyddeltonSir Thomas Lowe
3rd1621William TowersonRobert HeathRobert BatemanSir Thomas Lowe
4th1624Sir Thomas MiddletonHeneage FinchRobert BatemanMartin Bond

Parliaments of King Charles I of England

No.SummonedElectedAssembledDissolved
1st2 April 1625162517 May 162512 August 1625
2nd20 December 16251625/266 February 162615 June 1626
3rd31 January 1628162817 March 162810 March 1629
4th20 February 1640164013 April 16405 May 1640
5th24 September 164016403 November 164016 March 1660

No.Elected1st member2nd member3rd member4th member
1st1625Sir Thomas MiddletonHeneage FinchRobert BatemanMartin Bond
2nd1626Sir Thomas MiddletonHeneage FinchSir Robert BatemanSir Maurice Abbot
3rd1628Thomas MoulsonChristopher ClitherowHenry WallerJames Bunce
4th1640Thomas SoameIsaac PenningtonSamuel VassallMatthew Cradock
5th1640Sir Thomas Soame
Isaac PenningtonSamuel Vassall
Matthew Cradock
John Venn

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 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.
Year1st member2nd member3rd member4th member5th member6th member7th member
1653Robert TichborneJohn IretonSamuel MoyerJohn StoneHenry BartonJohn LangleyPraise-God Barebone

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 165416543 September 165422 January 1655
2nd10 July 1656165617 September 16564 February 1658
3rd9 December 16581658/5927 January 165922 April 1659

Year1st member2nd member3rd member4th member5th member6th member
1654Thomas AdamsThomas FooteWilliam SteeleJohn LanghamSamuel AveryAndrew Riccard
1656Thomas AdamsTheophilus BiddulphRichard BrowneThomas FooteSir Christopher PackJohn Jones
1659Theophilus BiddulphRichard BrowneWilliam ThompsonJohn Jones--

Knights and Citizens serving 1660–1707

Key to parties: T Tory; W Whig.
Notes:-

Elections

Election dates 1660–1710

Dates of general and by-elections from 1660.

Election results 1660–1690