Thomas cochrane autobiography for kids

Primary Sources

(1) In his autobiography, Thomas Cochrane described how his defeat in the 1805 Honiton election led to his victory in the following year.

To the intense disgust of the majority of the electors, I refused to bribe at all, announcing my determination to "stand on patriotic principles' which, in the electioneering parlance of those days, meant 'no bribery'.

To my astonishment, however, a considerable number of the respectable inhabitants voted in my favour.

Having had decisive proof as to the nature of Honiton politics, I made up my mind that the next time there was a vacancy in the borough, the seat should be mine without bribery.

Accordingly, immediately after my defeat, I sent the bellman round the town, having first primed him with an appropriate speech, intimating that "all who had voted for me, might repair to my agent and receive ten pounds ten." The novelty of a defeated candidate paying double the current price