election election held thirteen days december county town southwestern english county somerset took place following death incumbent whig member parliament election contested behalf sir 5th elected majority election rejected votes result caused rioting people killed election fiercely contested sides incurred great expenses campaign contested election years time society set aim preventing bad blood contested election spend money spent campaigning improving town remained members parliament background vacancy nominations century parliamentary constituency electorate returned predominantly whig members parliament partly agreement 2nd earl local lord chief landowner borough nominate candidate seats second nationally parliament controlled dubbed whig supremacy general election lord forward brother law 3rd baron carpenter nominated pair elected unopposed months election june died resulting election called fill vacant seat proposed previously served member general election fill vacancy recent history elections suggested opposition offered contested election proved case group forward candidate sir 5th devon want expense contested election withdrew leaving candidate unable find suitable candidate appealed lord locate stand interest mayor sent london meet whig prime minister 1st duke newcastle try secure candidate reported duke newcastle want seat willing fund election secret service account accurately king private money fund parliament eventually communication lord duke newcastle came forward whig candidate offered spend election addition money promised secret service fund candidates son sir 4th family owned estate east devon returned generations members parliament including father inherited estate father death oldest son 1st baron irish politician peer robert member parliament ireland constituency stood british parliament general election time certainly resident england result died june parliament result writ issued parliament winter extended election campaign run months causing major disruption wool trade town history reported length campaigning allowed display manoeuvre power parties counteract views lot money spent sides election addition said willing spend government forward secret service money campaign men plates given free voters generally food drink number plates bearing sir exist plate sold drinking glass similar inscription housed london public houses aligned candidates campaign money placed gain support lamented houses entertainment kept open time habits formed letter lord wrote election campaign involved great deal smoking drinking kissing hundreds women travelled august contest seat vacancy nationally advertised october despite voting commence december voting ran thirteen days closed december received votes pole giving majority course voting votes discounted referred corrupt result announced public showed displeasure assaulting friends escorted staying rioting ensued houses known support attacked reported minister prominent campaign threatened having house pulled sacrificed people man woman killed rioting prompted troops sent town placed command mayor case emergency murderers caught sent escaped aftermath 2nd baron father death returned unopposed general election pressed position parliament suggesting admiralty desire thought position provide stepping stone higher earl irish initially stood general election withdrew election face strong opposition formed group wished avoid repeat expensive violent election aim prevent contested election vowed spend money spent campaigning improving forward candidates withdrawal returned unopposed
Taunton by-election, 1754