The Fownes Luttrell dynasty of Minehead MPs

For centuries the Luttrells of Dunster Castle dominated their part of west Somerset, including, as was the norm for local magnates in these days, its politics and elections. Ever since Minehead first sent MPs to Parliament in 1563, the Luttrells either held or controlled one or both of its seats.

However, by the 18^th century their influence was waning as the original direct male line of the Dunster Luttrells died out, and the crippling burden of the often huge ‘expenses’ of elections, in bribing both candidates and electors, ate into their finances.

Revival of both the family estate and its electoral control of Minehead came when Henry Fownes of Devon married into the Luttrells in 1747. Until the constituency was abolished in 1832, Henry and five of his immediate family were Minehead Tory MPs.

They rarely attended or spoke in Parliament. In those pre-reform days, just being either an MP – often for the area where they had their estates – or controlling those who were MPs, provided the desired influence and social cachet both locally and in London society. To protect their status, they participated fully in the hugely corrupt – and often very expensive – practices that took place routinely in elections.

At first Henry was wary about becoming directly involved, either as a candidate or as a patron of others, because of the potential costs of the notoriously corrupt Minehead elections, remarking, in relation to his father-in-law, Alexander Luttrell (a former Minehead MP), that “I too plainly see the rock my father Luttrell foundered upon to run myself headlong into the same danger.”

In 1753, he tried, unsuccessfully, to sell his Minehead interests, including its electoral patronage, but, following the death of his wife in 1766, he changed his mind and decided to be a candidate himself: “The late severe loss I have sustained has made home become very dull and insipid to me, and therefore I have some thoughts of changing the scene and going into Parliament.”

He easily topped the poll at the 1768 election, and in October 1774 he was re-elected, along with his eldest son, John Fownes Luttrell, both unopposed. However, two months later, Henry stood down to allow a Government nominee to be elected, though he continued to control the constituency until his death in 1780, ensuring the return that year of two of his sons, John and Francis Fownes Luttrell.

John represented Minehead almost continuously from 1774 until his death in 1816. He was not a partisan, being described in 1779 by The Public Ledger thus: “Appears to be an independent country gentleman, and votes sometimes one way, and sometimes another.” He maintained family control, directly or otherwise, as in 1783 when Francis resigned, when he arranged the ‘sale’ of the vacant seat.

Family control of the two Minehead seats was being challenged by the mid-1790s. John, still a Minehead MP, brought in his brother, Thomas Fownes Luttrell, to fill a vacancy in the other seat, but the general election the following year saw the first contest at Minehead since 1768, and Thomas was beaten.

At the October 1812 election Minehead’s electors were treated to the unique spectacle of two candidates, both called John Fownes Luttrell, as John stood unopposed with his son, also called John. They were returned, according to one report, “by acclamation and with the most cordial demonstration of regard.”

The death of the elder John in 1816 led to the selection of his son Henry Fownes Luttrell, to fill the vacancy. Henry resigned his seat in April 1822 on being given a lucrative public office.

The second, younger John held his seat for 20 years, until Minehead was disenfranchised in 1832, despite his efforts at saving it during the passage of the Reform Bill. So ended the Fownes Luttrell dynasty of Minehead MPs, a Somerset case study of how politics and elections were run in 18^th and early 19^th centuries.