Gaynor Haliday shares a story of a mid 19th-century election that took place just after millions of male householders had been enfranchised. What followed was an extraordinary few weeks in which voters were courted with beer, tobacco and extravagant promises
Like many family and social historians, I am frequently diverted by an interesting snippet. By exploring further, I find my knowledge of my ancestors’ lives much enriched. This particular tale emerged while researching one of the ‘Women of Note’ in Bradford’s Undercliffe Cemetery and since many of my Bradfordian ancestors would have witnessed this event, my interest was piqued!
The scene was the 1868 General Election, the first following the Second Reform Act which became law in August 1867. By enfranchising all male householders living in a borough constituency, plus various other men meeting certain financial criteria, the electorate increased by around 1.5 million – almost double the previous number. First-time voters (who included my great-great-grandfather PC Thomas Bottomley) thronged to the polls, making it an exciting affair, reported widely and wordily in the newspapers – the social media of the day.
Bradford was no exception, electing two MPs for its population of around 110,000. Registered electors numbered 21,518, a four-fold increase on 1865. The Liberal Party selected two candidates: William Edward Forster (worsted manufacturer and sitting MP), and Edward Miall (minister-turned-newspaper editor and previously MP for Rochdale). Enter Henry Ripley (wealthy dyeworks owner). Vowing to stand against Miall (also as a Liberal), Ripley threw his hat (and money) into the ring. Censuses show that of the three, Ripley was the only Bradfordian, living and working in the constituency.
The campaign
Much of the campaigning was conducted in Bradford’s public houses, and Ripley faced intense questioning by the numerous interested parties who attended meetings. Many of these uneducated ‘ordinary working men’ were eager to discuss the politics of the day. And why not? These were issues that affected them and now they had chance to make their voices heard.
A week before the election, an estimation of how polling would stand on Tuesday, 17 November 1868 appeared in the local paper:
Forster 11,200 Miall 10,600 Ripley 7,400 But Ripley was a determi
