The seeming reluctance of the British nation to take an interest in general politics  is not a new phenomenon!

In the newspapers of May 1835 covering political events at Weymouth is a report of similar apathy for the selected  local MP’s.

During April a much planned and publicised dinner was to be held in the town for voters to meet the two representatives of that year,  Thomas Fowell Buxton (liberal) and William Wharton Burdon (Whig).

But despite the committee’s numerous efforts to rouse any interest in what should have been a grand occasion, out of the 600 people eligible to vote in the town, only 53 of those could be  persuaded to attend to meal…and they even had to give the tickets away to entice them to the event.

Even worse, they had to drag in people from nearby Dorchester to try to make up the numbers,  they were so dire!

In the end a mere 85 people sat down to a slap up meal with the elected members, who were non too happy at being dragged away from London to be met with such lack of enthusiasm.

Thomas Foxwell Buxton was MP for Weymouth for a total of 19 years (1818-1837).

Report from the Salisbury and Winchester Journal 27th January 1817.

His grand home in Weymouth, Belfield House, still stands.

Built for his father Issac Buxton, in the 18th c, a wealthy London merchant, a time when Royalty graced our little town with their presence, making it a hot spot for the wealthy and elite.

Thomas Buxton was a renown and active philanthropist, social reformer and anti-slaver.

A  monument was erected in Weymouth  to celebrate his achievements in the ending slave trade and stands atop Bincleaves green.

William Wharton Burton was a Bridport coal merchant, he only lasted 2 years as our local MP (1835-1837)

http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/constituencies/weymouth-and-melcombe-regis

***

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