Page "Reform Act 1832" Paragraph 22

A large number of House of Commons constituencies, especially those with small electorates, were under the control of rich landowners.

These constituencies were known as nomination boroughs or pocket boroughs, because they were said to be in the pockets of their patrons.

Most patrons were members of the nobility or the landed gentry who could use their local influence, prestige, and wealth to sway the voters.

This was particularly true in rural counties, and in small boroughs situated near a large landed estate.

Some noblemen even controlled multiple constituencies ; for example, the Duke of Norfolk possessed eleven, while the Earl of Lonsdale owned nine.

Writing in 1821, Sydney Smith proclaimed that " The country belongs to the Duke of Rutland, Lord Lonsdale, the Duke of Newcastle, and about twenty other holders of boroughs.

They are our masters!

" T. H. B.

Oldfield claimed in his Representative History of Great Britain and Ireland that, out of the 514 members representing England and Wales, about 370 were selected by nearly 180 patrons.

A member who represented a pocket borough was expected to vote as his patron ordered, lest he lose his seat at the next election.