‘Such passion she must have’, Lady Rockingham and the political world of Eighteenth Century Bath
Written by Gemma Burgham, Communications and Participation Intern (2019–2020) on the Sydney Gardens Project.
Although Sydney Gardens is not the focus of this article, understanding the political world of Bath during the Eighteenth Century provides another level to the socialising that would have been done in the Pleasure Gardens.
During the eighteenth century, Bath was a popular place for members of elite society to visit. There were many reasons why the upper classes would come to Bath: Pleasure Gardens like Sydney Gardens, to take the water from the Pump Room and to attend dances at the Assembly Rooms. Each of these activities required meeting new people and making connections to better your own status and is why Bath was a place to find a good marriage. Another connection that people would make in Bath was political. The Eighteenth Century political process, like many aspects of eighteenth century society, was dominated by men. Women had little to no role within politics as they were believed to be the weaker sex and therefore far more suited to domestic matters. Women had ‘virtually no rights in politics’, however elite women were able to use their social connections to gain some influence over the politicians of the day.[1]
Women were very much excluded from the Eighteenth Century political process and were often constricted to behind the scenes roles. Not only this, but the majority of women, apart from a very few who owned property, were unable to vote. Karl von den Steinem has pointed out that excluding women from voting ‘rested primarily upon social constraints rather than legal prohibitions’.[2] This is interesting, as many today would assume that the reason for women not voting was because of the law when in fact it was only in 1832 with the Reform Act that women were first denied the right to vote. This gives us a key insight into the societal expectations of women in the Eighteenth Century.
In a 1739 King’s Bench case, judges deemed that women should not vote because they ‘lacked judgement on public issues’ rather than finding any legal reasons.[3] The notion that women should not vote because they do not have enough judgement, is something that could easily have been rectified with better political education for women, as well as teaching women to sing, play music and draw. It would seem that the education of women had not changed by 1792. Mary Wollstonecraft argues that the male argument that women ‘ought to subjected because she always has been so’ is not valid, and that women should take up the fight for a better education to gain the opportunity of playing a more active role in public life.[4] For the most part however, a woman’s education in the Eighteenth Century was focused on becoming a good wife, mother and hostess, elite women were able to use this to their advantage within their role in the political process. Women in the Eighteenth Century, although they did not vote in elections, could play a major role. Elite women were able to gain support for family members, as well as use bargaining tools in order to influence men in their families.
One woman who seems to have found the balance between the private and public spheres is Lady Rockingham. Lady Rockingham married the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham in 1752 and played an active role in her husband’s political life. Lady Rockingham managed to use the smaller political society of Bath in 1765 to her husband’s advantage, by trying to gain the support of William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, who was also in Bath at the time.[5] After the death of the Duke of Cumberland, the Rockingham Whigs needed a new figurehead. Lord Rockingham placed the task of gaining Pitt’s support to his wife, knowing that not only was Lady Rockingham ‘used to socializing for political ends’, but also that if she did not succeed in gaining Pitt’s support it would not embarrass the party.[6] Lady Rockingham initially gained contact with Pitt to buy two horses, this enabled her to establish an acquaintance with Pitt as well as a political dialogue. Although Pitt refused to play a part in a ministry where he was not leader, Lady Rockingham succeeded by gaining his support for Rockingham. This is a example of an elite women stepping outside the private sphere to gain political influence. Lady Rockingham shows how social situations played a role in the political process, and how elite women could manipulate their behind the scenes role to hold some influence over those in power, by making the most of the informal role that they held. Lady Rockingham was clearly a vital part of her husband’s political success in this particular endeavour, as well as other aspects of his political career.
Lady Rockingham used Bath to further her husband’s career for two reasons. The first was that Bath was smaller than London, making it easier to meet influential people, the second was the social expectations and social calendar during the season in Bath. Lady Rockingham knew that by making connections with Pitt, she would further her husband’s career. However, her choice to use Bath as the scene to do this, with its Pleasure Gardens and ballrooms, she was able to manipulate the private and public sphere restrictions meaning she could get involved with the political life of Bath in a way seen as socially acceptable.
During this period, places like Sydney Gardens were integral in meeting new and influential. From the public breakfasts that were held daily, through to going for a promenade, being at Sydney Gardens would ensure a meeting with someone important. Lady Rockingham knew that using the political arena of Bath would enable her to meet new people during the season. The season at Sydney Gardens was always full of activities. Galas, fireworks, hot air balloons, this made Sydney Gardens a place where, it can be assumed, people of the upper classes would meet to discuss the politics of the day, and to establish advantageous relationships.
[1] Old Bailey Proceedings Online, Gender in the Proceedings (2015) <https://www.oldbaileyonline.org/static/Gender.jsp#genderroles> [accessed 5th January 2018].
[2] Von den Steinem, Karl, ‘The Discovery of Women in Eighteenth Century Political Life’, in The Women of England from Anglo-Saxon Times to the Present, ed. BARBARA KANNER (Hamden, Conn., 1979), pp. 229–258
[3] Shoemaker, Robert B., Gender in English Society 1650–1850: The Emergence of Separate Spheres (Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 1998), p. 231
[4] Wollstonecraft, Mary, Vindication of the Rights of Woman ([n.p.]: Courier Corporation, 1792), p. 54.
[5] Elaine Chalus, ‘Elite Women, Social Politics and the Political World of Late Eighteenth Century England’, The Historical Journal, 43.3, (2000), 669–697, in <https://www-cambridge-org.bathspa.idm.oclc.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0018246X99001314> [accessed 30th December 2017].
[6] Ibid.
