Northamptonshire (UK Parliament constituency)


The county constituency of Northamptonshire, in the East Midlands of England was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832 and was represented in Parliament by two MPs, traditionally known as Knights of the Shire.
After 1832 the county was split into two new constituencies, North Northamptonshire and South Northamptonshire.

Boundaries

The constituency consisted of the historic county of Northamptonshire. Although the county contained a number of parliamentary boroughs, each of which elected one or two MPs in its own right for parts of the period when Northamptonshire was a constituency, these areas were not excluded from the county constituency. Owning freehold property of the required value, within such boroughs, could confer a vote at the county election.

Members of Parliament

1290–1640

Constituency created
ParliamentFirst memberSecond member
1305 Oliver la ZouchJohn de Seyton
1319John de LongevilleWilliam Trussell
1324Henry de Trailly-
1330 Robert de DaventryEdmund Trussell
1337John de Seyton-
1343Sir William Brabazon-
1380 John Tyndale-
1382 John WydevilleJohn Tyndale
1383 John WydevilleJohn Tyndale
1383 John Wydeville-
1384 Roger de la ChamberJohn Tyndale
1384 Roger de la ChamberJohn Tyndale
1385Sir Giles Mallory-
1386Roger de la ChamberJohn Tyndale
1388 Sir Giles MalloryJohn Wydeville
1388 John HarrowdenJohn Mulsho
1390 Roger de la ChamberJohn Mulsho
1390 John WydevilleJohn Mulsho
1391Roger de la ChamberSir Nicholas Lilling
1393Sir Giles MalloryJohn Tyndale
1394Sir Henry GreenSir Giles Mallory
1395Roger de la ChamberRobert Chiselden
1397 Sir Henry GreenJohn Cope
1397 Hugh NorthboroughJohn Mulsho
1399John CopeRobert Chiselden
1401Sir Giles MalloryJohn Warwick
1402Sir Giles MalloryJohn Cope
1404 Sir John TrussellRalph Parles
1404 Ralph GreenJohn Cope
1406Ralph Parles / John CopeJohn Warwick
1407John TyndaleThomas Wake
1410Sir John St. JohnRalph Green
1411Sir John St. JohnWilliam Huddlestone
1413 --
1413 Nicholas MerburyThomas Wake
1414 Thomas WydevilleNicholas Merbury
1414 Sir John TrussellJohn Mortimer
1415-
1416 Sir John St. JohnWilliam Huddlestone
1416 -
1417Thomas MulshoThomas Wake
1419Thomas StrangeJohn Boseno
1420Sir John BeaufoRichard Knightley
1421 Sir John St. JohnThomas Strange
1421 Sir John KnyvetSimon Kynnesman
1423William TreshamRichard Knightley
1425John Catesby-
1427William Tresham-
1429William TreshamJohn Catesby
1431?-
1432William Tresham-
1433William Tresham-
1435William Tresham-
1437?-
1439William TreshamRichard Knightley
1442William Tresham-
1445William Tresham-
1447William TreshamHenry Green
1449 William TreshamWilliam Catesby
1449 William TreshamThomas Thorpe
1450 Thomas Mulsho
1453Sir Thomas TreshamWilliam Catesby
1459Sir Thomas Tresham
1484William Catesby
1486Sir Thomas Lovell
1491Richard EmpsonDavy Philip
1510–1512No names knownNo names known
1515?Sir Nicholas Vaux?
1523-
1529Sir William ParrRichard Knightley
1536-
1539Sir William ParrSir Thomas Tresham
1542Sir Thomas TreshamSir William Newenham
1545-
1547Henry WilliamsSir John Cope
1553 Sir Nicholas ThrockmortonRobert Lane
1553 Sir John FermorWilliam Chauncy
1554 Sir Thomas TreshamSir John Spencer
1554 Sir Thomas TreshamWilliam Chauncy
1555Sir John FermorWilliam Chauncy

As there were sometimes significant gaps between Parliaments, the dates of first assembly and dissolution are given for those up to 1640. Where the name of the member has not yet been ascertained or is not recorded in a surviving document, the entry unknown is entered in the table.
ElectedAssembledDissolvedFirst MemberSecond Member
155820 January 155817 November 1558Sir Walter MildmaySir John Spencer
155923 January 15598 May 1559Sir Walter MildmayEdward Montagu
156311 January 15632 January 1567Sir Walter MildmaySir William Cecil
15712 April 157129 May 1571Sir Walter MildmaySir Robert Lane
15728 May 157219 April 1583Sir Walter Mildmay Christopher Hatton
158423 November 158414 September 1585Sir Walter Mildmay Christopher Hatton
158615 October 158623 March 1587Sir Walter Mildmay Christopher Hatton
15884 February 158929 March 1589Sir Walter MildmaySir Richard Knightley
159318 February 159310 April 1593Sir Thomas CecilChristopher Yelverton
159724 October 15979 February 1598Sir Thomas CecilSir Richard Knightley
160127 October 160119 December 1601Sir John StanhopeSir William Lane
160419 March 16049 February 1611Sir Valentine KnightleySir Edward Montagu
16145 April 16147 June 1614Sir William TateSir Edward Montagu
162016 January 16218 February 1622Sir William SpencerSir Edward Montagu
16 January 16218 February 1622Sir William SpencerRichard Knightley
162412 February 162427 March 1625Sir William SpencerRichard Knightley
162517 May 162512 August 1625Sir William SpencerRichard Knightley
16266 February 162615 June 1626Sir William SpencerSir John Pickering
162817 March 162810 March 1629Francis NicollsRichard Knightley
1629–1640No Parliaments convened---

1640–1832

Notes

Elections