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The 1841 East Surrey by-election was polled on 12 February 1841. It was fought due to the death of the incumbent Conservative MP Richard Alsager.[1]
The 9 February public hearing of nominations or hustings, chaired by the under-Sheriff, Mr Abbot, duly took place the day after paper submissions closed, at the Fairfield, Croydon.[2] The ground was "pretty well occupied" by over 2000 supporters by 11am, the start time.[2] Hustings were erected and wagons of respective supporters drew up on the straw-laid ground; with pale blue and white widespread for Alcock and orange and purple displayed for Antrobus, beyond their carriages and among their musicians.[2]
| Candidate | Party he would sit with | Residence(s) | Proposer 1 | Proposer 2 | Flag inscriptions at nomination (among others) | Stated positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmund Antrobus[2] | Conservative | Antrobus Hall, Cheshire and Amesbury Abbey, Wiltshire | A.K. Barclay | Samuel Paynter | Church and State Church and Queen United for our Queen and Country | Defender of the Corn Laws (duties on imports) Church-provided, local education Against the popular ballot |
| Thomas Alcock | Whigs and Liberals | Ringwood Lodge | Rev. Courtney | Sir E. Colebrook | Victoria the People's Queen Liberty and Independence Repeal of the bread tax | Against the Corn Laws National, independent education For the popular ballot |
The Morning Chronicle's reporter wrote he believed Lord Leveson intended to nominate Alcock but he arrived after the meeting, and covered the third spoken speech in support of Alcock, by a Mr Coates. It concluded a show of hands took place, taken to have fallen to Mr Alcock but a poll was, as was habitual, demanded for a week's time. Antrobus ultimately won, by 2,652 to 1,438 votes.[3]
The Morning Post ran a report titled "East Surrey Election [new line] Triumph of Conservatism" acerbic of the "present ministers", describing the stated party of Alcock as Liberal 'misnamed' and him as a "Whig-Radical". It adds 200 of most Conservative-leaning electors met together at The Horns, chaired by W. Nottidge who toasted the new member's health.[3] There were in that inn cheers to many comments of Antrobus including "by the majority by which the election of East Surrey had been won, the Government had been taught a lesson they would not easily forget".[3]
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