2 - Politics and the Military, 1790–1832

Summary

Introduction

This chapter will review the involvement of soldiers in conventional politics in the early nineteenth century. It will also show how these men – almost all officers – engaged with evolving political parties. Its focus is on the Whigs and their growing links with emergent radicalism, rather than the Tories. From the time of the Commonwealth, the army had been involved in politics. Despite concern that it would mimic the authoritarianism of Cromwell's Major-Generals or James II's tyranny, army officers contributed a large number of MPs. They tended to act as individuals:

Theoretically there should have been an army interest for the government to contend with, as there were a large number of MPs who were or had been army officers. Between 1790 and 1820, one fifth of all MPs had military experience in the regulars and 135 military members were added between 1793 and 1815.

Over one hundred MPs served in the Peninsular War and the militarisation of the ruling elite continued with many more militia and volunteer officers. Many officers became MPs during periods of underemployment on half-pay. From 1815 there was a gradual decline in officer MPs, in conjunction with the reform of Parliament.

Memoirs indicate a general interest in politics among British officers in the Peninsular War: ‘We received papers and letters from dear Old England and our eager politicians assembled around the appointed tent or tree, allotted our news room’. This awareness was combined with widespread suspicion of prevalent Roman Catholicism, fostered by folk legends of Bloody Mary, the Armada and Foxe's Book of Martyrs, known together as the ‘Black Legend’. This feeling was shared by rankers like William Wheeler of the 51st Foot, who found the Spanish falling to their knees ‘so degrading to human nature’.

In contrast to the leeway which allowed officers to be involved in politics, the rank and file were discouraged from taking part. Stephen Morley, Paymaster Sergeant of the 5th Foot, who was discharged in 1812, summarised how commanders liked to view things:

The British Soldier, fortunately for himself, is a dunce in politics; it is a subject which he despises … To keep his arms in a serviceable condition, as well as clothing and appointments, to be patient under privations; cool and steady in dangers; brave and daring in action, to be obedient to orders and have an honest and cheerful heart form the perfection of his character.