Under-age Members.

The following Members were elected (within the period 1690-1715) while still minors, contrary to the custom of Parliament, which was itself reinforced by a specific provision in the Elections Act of 1696 (7 & 8 Gul. III, c. 25, cl. viii). Those marked with the symbol ‡ reached maturity before taking their seats in the Commons.

Before the passage of the Elections Act

Aged 17:

Hon. FRANCIS GODOLPHIN, Helston, 1695

Sir JOHN LEVESON GOWER, 5th Bt., Newcastle-under-Lyme, 16921

MONTAGU VENABLES-BERTIE (formerly BERTIE), Ld. Norreys, Oxfordshire, 16902

Aged 18:

Hon. ROBERT BERTIE, Westbury, 1695

Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, 4th Bt., Worcestershire, 16903

THOMAS TRENCHARD, Dorchester, 1690

Aged 19:

Hon. PHILIP SYDNEY, Kent, 1695

Aged 20:

Hon. MAURICE ASHLEY, Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, 1695

Sir JOHN BOLLES, 4th Bt., Lincoln, 1690

Sir ROGER BRADSHAIGH, 3rd Bt., Wigan, 1695

MICHAEL HILL, Saltash, 1692

HENRY HYDE, Ld. Hyde, Launceston, 1692

Hon. HENEAGE MONTAGU, Huntingdonshire, 1695

SIR RICHARD SANDFORD, 3rd Bt., Westmorland, 1695

MAURICE THOMPSON, Bletchingley, 1695

After the passage of the Elections Act

Aged 18:

RICHARD ELLYS, Grantham, Dec. 17014

Aged 20:

 ALLEN BATHURST, Cirencester, 1705

Sir WILLIAM BLACKETT, 2nd Bt., Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1710

‡Hon. LANGHAM BOOTH, Cheshire, 1705

‡MONTAGU GARRARD DRAKE, Amersham, 1713

WILLIAM HEDGES, Calne, 1710

CHARLES POWLETT, Mq. of Winchester II, Lymington, 1705

‡JAMES SCUDAMORE, 3rd Visct. Scudamore of Sligo [I], Herefordshire, 1705

‡Hon. FRANCIS WILLOUGHBY, Nottinghamshire, 17135

In addition, there are a number of Members whose birth-dates remain approximate or conjectural, but who may be assumed to have been elected while under age.

Before the passage of the Elections Act

Aged about 19:

ALEXANDER POPHAM, Chippenham, 1690

Aged about 20:

Hon. CHARLES CORNWALLIS, Eye, 1695

HENRY HENLEY, Lyme Regis, 16906

Hon. RICHARD MONTAGU, Huntingdon, 1690

Sir JOHN WALTER, 3rd Bt., Appleby, 1694

After the passage of the Elections Act

Aged about 16:

Hon. WILLIAM CECIL, Stamford, 1698

Aged about 18:

WILLIAM TULSE, Lymington, 1698

LEWIS PRYSE, Cardiganshire, Dec. 1701

Aged about 19:

 Hon. CHARLES CECIL, Stamford, 1705

Hon. JOHN FITZWILLIAM, Peterborough, 1710

Aged about 20:

Sir COPLESTONE WARWICK BAMPFYLDE, 3rd Bt., Exeter, 1710

Sir WILLIAM CAREW, 5th Bt., Saltash, 17117

ROBERT CLARGES, Reading, 1713

JOHN HOSKINS GIFFORD, Bridport, 1713

JOHN MORDAUNT, Ld. Mordaunt, Chippenham, Feb. 17018

Sir HENRY OXENDEN, 4th Bt., Sandwich, 1713

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: D. W. Hayton

End Notes

• 1. Re-elected in 1695 for the same constituency, aged 20.
• 2. First elected for Berkshire in 1689, aged only 16.
• 3. Returned 11 days before his 19th birthday.
• 4. Re-elected in 1702, for the same constituency, still aged 19.
• 5. Returned less than a month before his 21st birthday. Of age when Parliament met.
• 6. Either 20 or 21, depending on whether ascertained date of birth is in Old or New Style, with respect to the year.
• 7. Returned at a by-election seven days before the 21st anniversary of his baptism.
• 8. Returned again, for the same constituency, in the second general election of 1701, when he may still have been a minor.