Reform Act 1832 (nonfiction)

First page of the Reform Act of 1832. The record of the king's royal assent is written above the bill and reads in full: Le Roy Veult soit baillé aux Seigneurs. A cette Bille avecque des amendemens les Seigneurs sont assentuz. A ces Amendemens les Communes sont assentuz.

The Representation of the People Act 1832 (known informally as the 1832 Reform Act, Great Reform Act or First Reform Act to distinguish it from subsequent Reform Acts) was an Act of Parliament which introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales.

The Act was championed by Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey.

According to its preamble, the Act was designed to "take effectual Measures for correcting divers Abuses that have long prevailed in the Choice of Members to serve in the Commons House of Parliament".

Before the reform, most members nominally represented boroughs.

Frequently the selection of MPs was effectively controlled by one powerful patron: for example Charles Howard, 11th Duke of Norfolk controlled eleven boroughs.

Fiction cross-reference

• The Adulteration of Bergamot, a lost erotic novel by Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (nonfiction)

Nonfiction cross-reference

• Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey (nonfiction)

External links:

• Reform Act 1832 @ Wikipedia