1770 Speaker of the British House of Commons election

The 1770 election of the Speaker of the House of Commons occurred on 22 January 1770.[1][2]

22 January 1770

Candidate Sir Fletcher Norton Thomas Townshend Popular vote 237 121 Percentage 66.2% 33.8% Candidate's seat Guildford Whitchurch

Speaker before election Sir John Cust Elected Speaker Sir Fletcher Norton

The election followed the resignation of incumbent Speaker Sir John Cust due to ill health. Cust died two days after this election.[3]

Sir Fletcher Norton was proposed by Lord North and seconded by Richard Rigby.

Thomas Townshend was proposed by Lord John Cavendish and seconded by Lord George Sackville.

Both candidates addressed the House. Townshend stated, as Cavendish had, that he had been proposed without his knowledge. A debate followed, with Edmund Burke supporting Townshend.

On the motion "That the Right Hon. Sir Fletcher Norton do take the Chair of this House as Speaker," Norton was elected by 237 votes to 121[1][2] (the votes against given as 124 in some sources[4]).

References

1. Cobbett, William (1813). The Parliamentary History of England. 16. pp. 734–741.
2. Journals of the House of Commons. 32. 1803. p. 613.
3. Barker, G. F. R. (1888). "Cust, John" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 13. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
4. Smith, H. S. (1841). "Elections for Speaker". The Register of Parliamentary Contested Elections. p. 158.