Sligo, a flourishing port, was a close borough at the disposal of Owen Wynne. He returned himself on succeeding his father in 1789 and occupied the seat until June 1806, when he sold it to Col. George Canning of Garvagh for an annuity. The chief secretary was surprised and evidently disappointed when Wynne continued the arrangement with Canning in 1812, thinking the bargain had terminated and that Wynne would either sit himself, return his son-in-law, or offer it to government.1 Canning occupied the seat again, only to vacate it for his cousin and namesake’s English borough seat and transfer it to two of his uncles, the Spencers, in succession. In 1818 Canning and Wynne did not renew their contract and Wynne disposed of the seat to William Holmes* who recommended the return of John Bent.2 Wynne resumed the seat himself in 1820.