Return to Power introduction page

Staffordshire County Election, 1820

The County Election of 1820 is extremely significant in the political history of Staffordshire. The Leveson-Gower family had politically dominated Staffordshire during the eighteenth century as extensive wealthy landowners in the County. However, in the early nineteenth century the family faced contest from independent candidate Sir John Boughey who stood to oppose the Gower interest. The struggle culminated in Lord Gower’s sensational exit from the contest, signifying the start of the Leveson-Gower family’s withdrawal from Staffordshire politics.

The Sutherland Papers contain a huge variety of documents relating to the events of the 1820 County Election. In addition to correspondence from voters declining to support Lord Gower, documents include printed notices of Lord Gower’s withdrawal from the contest and detailed election accounts. Alongside letters from Gower’s election agents, these documents recreate the atmosphere of political fervour in Staffordshire during this election.

What happened at the Staffordshire County Election, 1820?

By the 1820s political reform was widely called for and the number of contested local elections around England had increased. Events in the Staffordshire County Election of 1820 demonstrate the power and influence of ideologies promoting political independence and democracy which led Lord Gower to withdraw from the contest and concede defeat.

In March 1820 John Boughey announced that he would stand against Lord Gower at the County Election. The atmosphere in the County Town of Stafford at this time was one of opposition against the ‘undue influence’ and ‘private’ power of Lord Gower’s party, with people campaigning for a fair election. A banner which appeared on the hustings before the poll read ‘Gold Cannot Buy Us Nor Peers Compel Us’, reflecting feelings amongst the electorate that landed aristocrats like Lord Gower held an unfair influence over the result of the election.

Lord Gower’s party rallied support by treating voters, who were ‘dinnered and feasted’, but support for Sir John Boughey proved overwhelming. Despite Lord Gower being respected personally in the County, a show of hands at the poll revealed that, fuelled with reformist fervour, Boughey’s independent party were the electorate’s choice. Following this, Lord Gower withdrew from the County Election. His withdrawal from the contest was the first in a series of actions, including the auction of his Newcastle estate, which led to his complete withdrawal from Staffordshire politics by 1825.

Click here to see documents relating to the Staffordshire County Election, 1820 in the Sutherland Papers
Click here to see a list of further reading on the English political system, Staffordshire elections and politics