WITH another general election in the offing, it seems a good time to relate some old tales of Sir Francis Blake Delaval, who was one of two MPs for Andover in the mid-18th century. In the typical aristocratic tradition of those times, he was variously described as a rake, prankster, debtor and libertine, yet beloved by all who knew him.

Sir Francis was born in 1727, the eldest son of Capt Francis Delaval RN of Seaton Delaval, Northumberland. He received his knighthood after a short-lived military career in which he took part in a raid on St Malo, though in storming the Brittany beaches there were actually no French troops there to put up any fight.

He first contested the 1749 election in Andover but lost, only to come back in 1754, when he was elected. In those days, the only inhabitants who could vote were the 24 members of the Corporation (forerunners of the borough council) and Sir Francis spent much time in wooing these men for their vote over the course of two successful elections in 1754 and 1761 and an unsuccessful one in 1768. Whether the subsequent tales are wholly true or not, the reader may judge for him/herself.

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The George Hotel window from where Kelynge was thrown (Image: W Cosser, Southampton) In 1754, one elector declared he would not vote for any of the candidates. Sir Francis discovered that he was an enthusiast for the ‘public spectacles of London’ but had never seen a genuine fire-eater. In order to coax his vote, Sir Francis arranged for a friend of his called Angelo to come to Andover from London to perform. In front of the obstinate voter, Angelo filled his mouth with torrents of flame, which then burst forth from his lips, nostrils and even his eyes. As the flames changed colour and increased in ferocity, the wavering elector was won over and voted for Sir Francis.

On another occasion, he wheeled a culverin (cannon) into the market place and proceeded to fire 500 gold sovereigns into the air, a fortnight’s wages for a Hampshire labourer at that time. The recipients were no doubt won over themselves but the tale seems to wrongly depend on their ability to vote.

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On another occasion, he visited the bailiff (mayor) of the corporation’s wife with whom he had previously been on good terms but she acted disdainful. On asking why, she replied that the tea caddy box with solid silver canisters he had promised her after the earlier election had turned out to contain plated ones instead. He declared it was he who had been swindled and it took all his efforts to bring her around.

But the most dramatic story was that of the dinner at the George Hotel to which both the officers of a local regiment and the members of the corporation were invited. Cards were written out to both parties which suggested that each were the hosts of the other. At the end of a very good dinner when it was time to settle the bill, both regiment and corporation soon realised that they had been tricked. It was hardly likely to endear him to his potential electors but Delaval considered it a great joke. His election agent, Kelynge, who was present at the meal got the blame for the deceit, was picked up by the colonel of the regiment and thrown out of the first-floor window into the High Street, breaking both his legs. The hapless Kelynge later sued Sir Francis for £500 but the notorious MP was always in debt and it is doubtful whether he ever got it.     

If you are interested in local history, why not join Andover History and Archaeology Society? Details can be found at andoverlocalhistoryarchaeology.uk.