Owing to the proximity of Chatham dockyard the Admiralty was the largest employer at Rochester, usually nominating both Members, one of whom was always an admiral. Opposition took the form of demanding that the town should be represented by two admirals. In 1734 Admiral Sir John Norris was put up unsuccessfully without his consent against Newcastle’s brother-in-law, David Polhill, who wrote to Walpole, 5 Sept. 1733:

You must have heard of the strong opposition made to the government interest at Rochester. By many letters from thence ’tis likely to be the greatest struggle that has ever been on the like occasion ... The election for mayor is to be the 17th instant. Every vote we get from the enemy is two. I desire the enclosed two persons may be made tide waiters before that day. It is of more consequence than I can write.

I have by this post asked a small favour of the Duke of Argyll. If not already disposed of, it will secure three votes more.1

Polhill was defeated by the popular hero, Admiral Vernon, in 1741. When he stood again at the by-election caused by Vernon’s choosing to sit for Ipswich, another admiral, Thomas Mathews, was put up against him. Before the election Vernon wrote to Newcastle:

As they are a port in which a great part of the Royal Navy is laid up, the electors judged it most for the service of their corporation and likewise for paying a decent regard to the Crown for the advantages arising to them for their situation to make choice of two of his Majesty’s admirals to be their representatives in Parliament, who may ... be as justly esteemed to understand their true interests as a gentleman who has no relation to the sea, either as a seaman or merchant.2

This time Polhill was successful, retaining the seat till his death in 1745. At another by-election in 1746, Pelham reminded the Duke of Bedford, then first lord of the Admiralty, that ‘one admiral was generally chose for that town ... I do imagine they will expect an admiral’,3 who was duly nominated in the person of Sir Chaloner Ogle. On Polhill’s death the seat was filled by the son of a former Member, Admiral Haddock.