Till 1734 the Winchester corporation returned the relations of Charles Powlett, 3rd Duke of Bolton, the lord lieutenant of the county, and George Brydges, a neighbouring landowner, related to the 1st Duke of Chandos. An undated letter shows the two dukes, on behalf of Brydges, representing to Walpole that it was of consequence to the interest at Winchester that a patent applied for by the corporation should be passed immediately.2

In 1734, when the Duke of Bolton had gone into opposition, Brydges joined with Paulet St. John, another neighbouring landowner, who had stood unsuccessfully at a by-election in 1730, to defeat the Duke’s cousin, William Powlett.3 At the next general election St. John was returned for the county, leaving Brydges and William Powlett unopposed at Winchester. From 1747 Henry Penton, a native of the city, gained control of the second seat, ousting William Powlett. In 1751, on the death of Brydges, whose estates passed to Henry Brydges, 2nd Duke of Chandos, the resulting vacancy was filled by St. John.