Sir James St. Clare, Bart. Petitioner. ] Sir Robert Gordon, Sitting Member for the Shire of Caitness. The Petitioner's Case [caption title]

[London], 1715. Disbound. Mild soiling at edges

Unrecorded

An unrecorded British petitionary leaflet protesting the recent election of the young Sir Robert Gordon to Parliament for Caithness in Scotland. The petitioner, Sir James St. Clare (or Sinclair), lost to Gordon in the February election and argues here that his opponent was not a valid candidate, being "an Infant, not Nineteen Years of Age," and unable to prove any land holdings in Caithness that would qualify him to be elected. St. Clare notes that he traveled "Five Hundred Miles to make good this his just Complaint." He was evidently rebuffed, however, as Gordon would serve as MP for Caithness from 1715 to 1722. Sir Robert Gordon (1696-1772) was the 4th Baronet of Letterfourie, Sutherland. This extremely rare document is among the first examples of lobbying literature, which first began proliferating in the lobby of the House of Commons following the accession of King George I in 1714 and the Whig Party's massive victories in the elections of 1715.