Thirsk

Borough

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Background Information

Right of Election:

in burgage holders of Old Thirsk

Number of voters:

50

Population:

(1801): 2,092

Elections

DateCandidate
21 June 1790SIR GREGORY PAGE TURNER, Bt.
 ROBERT VYNER I
28 May 1796SIR THOMAS FRANKLAND, Bt.
 SIR GREGORY PAGE TURNER, Bt.
7 Nov. 1801 WILLIAM FRANKLAND vice Frankland, vacated his seat
8 July 1802SIR GREGORY PAGE TURNER, Bt.
 WILLIAM FRANKLAND
6 Feb. 1805 HON. RICHARD NEVILLE vice Page Turner, deceased
4 Nov. 1806ROBERT GREENHILL
 JAMES TOPPING
9 May 1807WILLIAM FRANKLAND
 ROBERT GREENHILL
10 Oct. 1812WILLIAM FRANKLAND
 ROBERT GREENHILL
31 Mar. 1815 ROBERT FRANKLAND vice Frankland, vacated his seat
19 June 1818ROBERT FRANKLAND
 ROBERT GREENHILL (RUSSELL)

Main Article

The right of election in Thirsk was vested in 50 burgages situated in the virtually depopulated old town. All but one belonged to Sir Thomas Frankland, 6th Bt.* of Thirkleby, who, for the sake of appearances, transferred them to friends and relations at election time. Throughout the period he returned either guests or members of his family. He resisted Pitt’s invitation to barter them for a peerage. From 1805, his nominees were chosen in accordance with his brother William’s politics.

Author: Winifred Stokes

Notes