Thomas Bish (5 May 1779 – 27 December 1842) was a British politician.

Bish worked as a stockbroker and held a government contract for the lottery. At the 1826 UK general election, he stood in Leominster as a Whig. He was elected but was unseated on an election petition due to the contract he held.[1]

The lottery was abolished in 1826, and this enabled Bish to stand again in Leominster at the 1832 UK general election, winning the seat.[2] In Parliament, he opposed the Corn Law and supported a secret ballot and shorter Parliamentary terms. He argued that the Bank of England should manufacture their banknotes in a manner that makes them harder to forge and that Parliament and the Court should sometimes meet in Dublin.[1] He also argued for the revival of the state lottery, arguing that since its abolition, many British citizens instead put money into lotteries based overseas.[2]

Bish held his seat at the 1835 UK general election but stood down in 1837.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Stenton, Michael (1976). Who's Who of British Members of Parliament. Vol. 1. Hassocks: Harvester Press. p. 35. ISBN 0855272198.
  2. ^ a b Dod, Charles Roger (1843). The Annual Biography. Chapman and Hall.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Leominster
1826–1827
With: The Lord Hotham
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Leominster
1832–1837
With: The Lord Hotham
Succeeded by