“Make Him an Offer He Can't Refuse”: Corruption, Coercion and Aristocratic Landowners in Nineteenth-century, Urban Wales

Abstract

ABSTRACT Although the second Marquess of Bute is often described as the “father” of modern Cardiff, this article will show that Bute was able to use his position to manipulate town affairs and exercise total political and economic control over the urban settlement. Likewise, in the neighbouring county of Monmouthshire, the fifth Duke of Beaufort used his authority in a similar manner to maintain his influence over the boroughs of Newport, Monmouth and Usk. Using newspaper articles, borough records and private correspondence, it will be shown that these aristocratic landowners were able to consolidate their authority over the urban environment during the nineteenth century. As the owners of vast estates, both men had enormous personal fortunes and access to powerful and influential networks that enabled them to threaten livelihoods, rig elections and thwart urban and economic developments in order to manipulate the structures of urban governance for their own gain.