Grampound (UK Parliament constituency)

Grampound was a parliamentary borough in Cornwall, England, that elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1547 to 1821. It was notorious for its corruption, eventually being disenfranchised due to extensive bribery.

History

The right to elect MPs was granted to Grampound in 1547. From the start, the borough was susceptible to influence from powerful local landowners. Its electorate was small, typically consisting of around 60-70 voters, making it relatively easy to bribe or intimidate them.

Over the centuries, allegations of corruption became increasingly frequent and serious. In the early 19th century, the extent of the bribery at Grampound became so blatant that it attracted national attention.

Disenfranchisement

Following a parliamentary investigation into the 1818 general election, where widespread bribery was proven, the borough was formally disenfranchised in 1821 by the Grampound Disfranchisement Act. The Act redistributed Grampound's seats to Yorkshire, which gained two additional MPs, reflecting the growing population and industrial importance of the county. This act was an important precedent in parliamentary reform.

Legacy

The disenfranchisement of Grampound is significant as it was a landmark event in the history of parliamentary reform in Britain. It highlighted the problem of rotten boroughs (constituencies with tiny electorates that were easily controlled) and contributed to the growing pressure for wider reforms of the electoral system, eventually culminating in the Reform Act of 1832. Grampound serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of electoral integrity.