Global political history

Global political history from 3000 BC to the 21st century – political leaders, elections, and more.

Past Constituencies (R)

Radnor | Reading | Richmond (Yorks) | Richmond and Barnes | Ripon | Rochester | Rochester and Chatham | Rossendale | Rye.


Radnor

Member of Parliament for Radnor
Robert Harley

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 5 1661; d. May 21 1724.

Whig Party

1690 – 1711

Spencer Compton Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 23 1833; d. March 24 1908.

Titles:

Held the courtesy titles Lord Cavendish of Keighley, 1834 – 1858, and Marquess of Hartington, 1858 – December 21 1891 (citation needed). Succeeded as the 8th Duke of Devonshire and associated titles (Earl of Devonshire, Earl of Burlington, Baron Cavendish of Hardwick, Baron Cavendish of Keighley), December 21 1891.1

Honours:

Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, 1892 (citation needed).

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Marquess of Hartington,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 24 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/marquess-of-hartington/index.html.

Liberal Party

February 25 1869 – March 31 1880


Reading

Member of Parliament for Reading
Richard Aldworth Griffin-Neville

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 3 1750; d. February 28 1825.

Non-Partisan

1782 – 1797

Charles Shaw Lefevre

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 20 1759; d. April 27 1823.

Whig Party

1802 – 1820

George John Shaw Lefevre

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 12 1831; d. April 19 1928.

Liberal Party

1863 – 1885


Richmond (Yorks)

Member of Parliament for Richmond (Yorks)
Sir Conyers Darcy

Date of birth/date of death: b. c. 1685; d. December 1 1758.

Whig Party

1722 – 1727

Sir Conyers Darcy

Date of birth/date of death: b. c. 1685; d. December 1 1758.

Whig Party

1728 – 1747

Alexander Wedderburn

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 3 1733; d. January 2 1805.

Non-Partisan

1768 – 1769

James Graham, Marquess of Graham

Date of birth/date of death: b. September 8 1755; d. December 30 1836.

Non-Partisan

1780 – 1784

Dudley Long North

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 14 1748; d. February 21 1829.

Whig Party

1812 – 1818

Leon Brittan

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 25 1939; d. January 21 2015.

Conservative Party

1983 – 1988

William Jefferson Hague

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 26 1961.

Titles:

Received a life peerage as Baron Hague of Richmond, of Richmond in the County of North Yorkshire, October 9 2015.2

Honours:

Created a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, December 30 2025.3

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Lord Hague of Richmond.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/379/career.

[2] “No. 27625,” The Edinburgh Gazette, Supplement, October 14 2015, 1726, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/27625/page/1726.

[3] “No. 64940,” The London Gazette, Supplement, December 30 2025, N4, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/64940/supplement/N4.

Conservative Party

February 23 1989 – March 30 2015

Rishi Sunak

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 12 1980.

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Rishi Sunak.” Accessed April 9, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/4483/career.

Conservative Party

May 7 2015 – May 30 2024


Richmond and Barnes

Member of Parliament for Richmond and Barnes
Jeremy James Hanley

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 17 1945; d. May 22 2026.

Honours:

Created a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, August 2 1997.2

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir Jeremy Hanley.” Accessed June 2, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/734/career.

[2] “No. 54850,” The London Gazette, Supplement, August 1 1997, 8912, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/54850/supplement/8912.

Conservative Party

June 9 1983 – April 8 1997


Ripon

Member of Parliament for Ripon
John Aislabie

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 4 1670; d. June 18 1742.

Whig Party

1695 – 1702

John Aislabie

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 4 1670; d. June 18 1742.

Whig Party

1705 – 1721

Henry Vane

Date of birth/date of death: b. c. 1705; d. March 6 1758.

Whig Party

1741 – 1747

Sir James Graham, 1st Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 1761; d. April 13 1824.

Tory Party

1798 – 1807

Charles Winn-Allanson, 2nd Baron Headley

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 25 1784; d. April 9 1840.

Tory Party

1806 – 1807

George Gipps

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 29 1783; d. April 26 1869.

Tory Party

1807 – 1826

Frederick John Robinson

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 1 1782; d. January 28 1859.

Tory Party

1807 – 1827

Lancelot Shadwell

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 3 1779; d. August 10 1850.

Tory Party

1826 – 1827

Louis Hayes Petit

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 9 1774; d. November 13 1849.

Tory Party (1827 – 1831); Whig Party (1831 – 1832)

1827 – 1832

Sir Robert Harry Inglis, 2nd Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 12 1786; d. May 5 1855.

Tory Party

1828 – 1829

Sir James Robert George Graham, 2nd Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 1 1792; d. October 25 1861.

Peelite Conservative

1847 – 1852

Sir Charles Wood, 3rd Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 20 1800; d. August 8 1885.

Liberal Party

1865 – 1866

Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Knight Storks

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 5 1811; d. September 6 1874.

Liberal Party

1871 – 1874

George Joachim Goschen

Date of birth/date of death: b. August 10 1831; d. February 7 1907.

Liberal Party

1880 – 1885

Edward Frederick Lindley Wood

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 16 1881; d. December 23 1959

Titles of nobility: Baron Irwin in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1925 – 1959); Viscount Halifax in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1934 – 1959); Earl of Halifax in the Peerage of the United Kingdom (1944 – 1959).

Conservative Party

1910 – 1925


Rochester

Member of Parliament for Rochester
Captain Sir Charles Middleton

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 14 1726; d. June 17 1813.

Whig Party

1784 – 1790

John Calcraft the Younger

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 16 1765; d. September 11 1831.

Whig Party

1806 – 1818

Ralph Bernal

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 2 1783; d. August 26 1854.

Whig Party

1820 – 1841

George Augustus Frederick Child Villiers, Viscount Villiers

Date of birth/date of death: b. April 4 1808; d. October 24 1859.

Tory Party

1830 – 1831

Ralph Bernal

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 2 1783; d. August 26 1854.

Whig Party

1847 – 1852

James Edward Hubert Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount Cranborne

Date of birth/date of death: b. October 23 1861; d. April 4 1947.

Conservative Party

1893 – 1903


Rochester and Chatham

Member of Parliament for Rochester and Chatham
Julian Michael Gordon Critchley

Date of birth/date of death: b. December 8 1930; d. September 9 2000.

Conservative Party

1959 – 1964


Rossendale

Member of Parliament for Rossendale

Name

Political Party

Dates in Office

Spencer Compton Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 23 1833; d. March 24 1908.

Titles:

Held the courtesy titles Lord Cavendish of Keighley, 1834 – 1858, and Marquess of Hartington, 1858 – December 21 1891 (citation needed). Succeeded as the 8th Duke of Devonshire and associated titles (Earl of Devonshire, Earl of Burlington, Baron Cavendish of Hardwick, Baron Cavendish of Keighley), December 21 1891.1

Honours:

Created a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, 1892 (citation needed).

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Marquess of Hartington,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 24 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/marquess-of-hartington/index.html.

Liberal Party (1886 – 1887); Liberal Unionist Party (1887 – 1891)

December 18 1885 – December 21 1891

Lewis Vernon Harcourt

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 31 1863; d. February 24 1922.

Liberal Party

1904 – 1917

David Austin Trippier

Date of birth/date of death:

Born May 15 1946.

References:

[1] UK Parliament. “Parliamentary career for Sir David Trippier.” Accessed May 16, 2026. https://members.parliament.uk/member/955/career.

Conservative Party

May 3 1979 – May 13 1983


Rye

Member of Parliament for Rye
Thomas Pelham

Date of birth/date of death: b. February 28 1728; d. January 8 1805.

Whig Party

1749 – 1754

William Dickinson

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 13 1745; d. May 26 1806.

Non-Partisan

1777 – 1790

Charles Wolfran Cornwall

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 15 1735; d. January 2 1789.

Non-Partisan

1784 – 1789

Charles Long

Date of birth/date of death: b. January 2 1760; d. January 17 1838.

Tory Party

1789 – 1796

Robert Banks Jenkinson, Lord Hawkesbury

Date of birth/date of death: b. June 7 1770; d. December 4 1828.

Tory Party

1790 – 1803

Robert Dundas

Date of birth/date of death: b. March 14 1771; d. June 10 1851.

Tory Party

1796 – 1800

John Blaquiere, 1st Baron de Blaquiere

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 15 1732; d. August 27 1812.

Tory Party

1801 – 1802

Thomas Davis Lamb

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1775; d. 1818.

Tory Party

1802 – 1806

Sir Charles Talbot, 2nd Baronet

Date of birth/date of death: b. November 8 1751; d. November 3 1812.

Tory Party

1802 – 1806

Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 1 1769; d. September 14 1852.

Titles:

Raised to the Peerage of the United Kingdom as Viscount Wellington and Baron Douro, August 16 1809.2 Created Earl of Wellington, February 22 1812.3 Created Marquess of Wellington, August 18 1812.4 Created Duke of Wellington and Marquess Douro, May 3 1814.5

Honours:

Created a Knight Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, September 1 18046 (converted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, January 2 18157). Created a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, March 4 1813.8

Military ranks:

Promoted to colonel, May 14 1796.9 Promoted to brigadier-general, July 25 1801.10 Promoted to major-general, May 11 1802.11 Promoted to lieutenant-general, May 7 1808.12 Promoted to brevet general (Spain and Portugal only), August 6 1811.13 Promoted to field marshal, June 21 1813.14

Elections:

Elected to the constituency of Rye, April 12 1806.15

References:

[1] UK Parliament, “Sir Arthur Wellesley,” Historic Hansard 1803–2005, accessed April 24 2026, https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/sir-arthur-wellesley/index.html.

[2] “No. 16291,” The London Gazette, August 22 1809, 1342, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/16291/page/1342.

[3] “No. 16576,” The London Gazette, February 18 1812, 335, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/16576/page/335.

[4] “No. 16636,” The London Gazette, August 18 1812, 1677, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/16636/page/1677.

[5] “No. 16894,” The London Gazette, May 3 1814, 936, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/16894/page/936.

[6] “No. 15732,” The London Gazette, August 28 1804, 1069, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/15732/page/1069.

[7] “No. 16972,” The London Gazette, January 4 1815, 18, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/16972/page/18.

[8] “No. 16708,” The London Gazette, March 2 1813, 458, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/16708/page/458.

[9] “No. 13892,” The London Gazette, May 14 1796, 460, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/13892/page/460.

[10] “No. 15389,” The London Gazette, July 21 1801, 894, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/15389/page/894.

[11] “No. 15478,” The London Gazette, May 8 1802, 467, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/15478/page/467.

[12] “No. 16142,” The London Gazette, May 3 1808, 622, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/16142/page/622.

[13] “No. 16510,” The London Gazette, August 3 1811, 1526, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/16510/page/1526.

[14] “No. 16746,” The London Gazette, July 3 1813, 1270, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/16746/page/1270.

[15] “No. 15908,” The London Gazette, April 12 1806, 449, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/15908/page/449.

Tory Party

April 12 1806 – 1806

Michael Angelo Taylor

Date of birth/date of death: b. 1757; d. July 16 1834.

Whig Party

1806 – 1807

Richard Le Poer Trench, 2nd Earl of Clancarty

Date of birth/date of death: b. May 19 1767; d. November 24 1837.

Tory Party

1807

Henry Bonham

Date of birth/date of death: b. July 31 1765; d. April 9 1830.

Tory Party

1826 – 1830