Leicester was a parliamentary borough in Leicestershire, which elected two members of parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1918, when it was split into three single-member divisions.
Leicester sent burgesses to Parliament for the first time in 1295.
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Duckworth resigned after being appointed as Master of the Court of Chancery.
The election was declared void on petition on 1 June 1848, due to bribery by Walmsley and Gardner's agents, causing a by-election.
Gardner's death caused a by-election.
Noble's death caused a by-election.
Biggs resigned, causing a by-election.
Taylor resigned, causing a by-election.
Both Picton and Whitehead resigned. The House of Commons passed separate resolutions for two by-elections, and two separate election writs were issued to Leicester Corporation. However, Israel Hart, the mayor of Leicester, decided to economise by holding a single by-election for both vacancies. In 1895, a select committee of the Commons reported that this procedure was incorrect, but that since it was adopted in good faith and without objection from any of the candidates, the result would be allowed to stand.
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