John Patrick Somers (1791–1862) was an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

Repeal Association The Repeal Association was an Irish mass membership political movement set up by Daniel O'Connell in 1830 to campaign for a repeal of the Acts of Union of 1800 between Great Britain and Ireland. The Association's aim was to revert Ireland to th ...

and Whig politician.

Political career

Somers was first elected MP as a Whig candidate for Sligo Borough in the 1837 general election, and was re-elected several times, including in 1841 when he stood as a Repeal Association candidate. His term was brought to an end in March 1848, when the result of the 1847 general election in which he had been elected unopposed was overturned, as he did not possess the required property qualifications, and he was unseated. At the resulting by-election in April, Somers again stood as a Repeal Association candidate, but was defeated by the Liberal

Charles Towneley Charles Townley FRS (1 October 1737 – 3 January 1805) was a wealthy English country gentleman, antiquary and collector, a member of the Towneley family. He travelled on three Grand Tours to Italy, buying antique sculpture, vases, coins, manu ...

. But this election too was overturned, due to Towneley being guilty of treating, and at the next by-election in July, Somers was again re-elected as a Repeal Association candidate. Yet, standing as a Whig at the following general election in 1852 he was again defeated by Towneley, in an election which was again overturned due to bribery on both sides. At the ensuing by-election in July 1853, Somers stood as a Liberal candidate but was defeated by the opposing Liberal John Sadleir. Nevertheless, Somers persisted, standing unsuccessfully at the 1857 by-election caused by Sadleir's death, when he was beaten by the

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

candidate,

John Arthur Wynne John Arthur Wynne PC (20 April 1801 – 19 June 1865) was an Irish landowner and politician. He was the eldest surviving son of Owen Wynne (1755–1841) of Hazelwood House, Sligo, Ireland and educated at Winchester School (1816-1819) and Chr ...

. Somers was finally returned to Parliament at the 1857 general election, only for this result to be overturned with the vote numbers revised after several electors, including the Mayor of Sligo, was refused a vote. The revisited results put his opponent, Wynne, one vote ahead, and Somers was again unseated in July 1857, almost four months after the general election. While Somers attempted to regain the seat in 1859 and

1860 Events January–March * January 2 – The discovery of a hypothetical planet Vulcan is announced at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris, France. * January 10 – The Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusett ...

, he was ultimately unsuccessful and then retired from politics.

Other activities

Somers was part of the provisional committee of the Irish West Coast Railway, joining in 1845. He was also a

Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

for

County Sligo County Sligo ( , gle, Contae Shligigh) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the Border Region and is part of the province of Connacht. Sligo is the administrative capital and largest town in the county. Sligo County Council is the local ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Somers, John Patrick 1791 births 1862 deaths Irish Repeal Association MPs Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Sligo constituencies (1801–1922) UK MPs 1837–1841 UK MPs 1841–1847 UK MPs 1847–1852 UK MPs 1857–1859 UK MPs 1865–1868 Whig (British political party) MPs for Irish constituencies