Both Buckingham seats were controlled by the local Whig families of Temple, afterwards Grenville, of Stowe, and Denton of Hillesden. The Temples were the lords paramount of the borough, receiving a quit-rent from the corporation; the Dentons held the Prebend End manor within the town.1 After 1715, when a Tory single was defeated, there were no contested elections. At first the Dentons followed the political lead of the Grenvilles, but when the latter went over to the Government in 1744, George Denton apparently remained in opposition, breaking with the Grenvilles, who took both seats at the 1747 election. The 2nd Lord Egmont wrote against Buckingham in his electoral survey, c.1749—50: ‘The Grenvilles must be routed at all events and two friends brought in’, the Prince of Wales adding

which may be done by the Apothecary [Bubb Dodington], who detests them, and by Mr. Denton, who probably would be one, the other might be a rich man, who would launch out a sum. Potter and Ayscough know that borough.