I am looking for biographical information for British MPs for the past
300 (or so) years.  Specifically, I want a list of everyone who has
been an MP, there  date (or year) or birth, the date they were
elected, and their date of death.  (I need all three of these for the
data to be any use).  I am not especially interested in current, or
living MPs.

I don't need the list to be reproduced here, I just need someone to
tell me where I can find it.  If it's published in a book somewhere
that's fine - just tell me the book.

If 300 years aren't available, I need information on at least 600, who
are all dead.

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Clarification of Question by jeremymiles-ga on 05 Feb 2003 14:16 PST

I forgot to say that I have searched the .gov.uk sites for this, and
not found anything there.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 05 Feb 2003 18:51 PST

The information you are seeking is available, I believe, but at a cost
of several hundred pounds.  Is it still of interest to you at that
price?

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Clarification of Question by jeremymiles-ga on 06 Feb 2003 02:45 PST

Thanks for trying - I hadn't considered a CD as a possibility.  It's a
little out of my price range though.

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 07 Feb 2003 06:35 PST

I found a free database that lists MP's from 1750-1950. It provides a
nicely detailed biography of each member. There are 4 pages of them
but it doesn't seem to amount to 600 (but then again, it "is" free to
access).

Would this do as an answer?

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

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Clarification of Question by jeremymiles-ga on 08 Feb 2003 12:11 PST

Hi tutuzdad,

That sounds fine, feel free to stick it in as an answer.

Thanks,

jeremymiles-ga

Dear jeremymiles-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question.

Here is a brief biography database of the current Members of
Parliament:

DIRECTORY OF MP’s, PEERS AND OFFICES
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/alms.htm

Here are biography databases of past Members of Parliament. It’s
actually all from the same database just broken down for you into
several parts for simplicity sake:

ENCYLOPAEDIA OF BRITISH HISTORY – MP’S 1750-1820
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Parliament.htm

ENCYLOPAEDIA OF BRITISH HISTORY – MP’S 1750-1820
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ParliamentA.htm

ENCYLOPAEDIA OF BRITISH HISTORY – MP’S 1880-1920
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Parliament2.htm

ENCYLOPAEDIA OF BRITISH HISTORY – MP’S 1920-1960
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Parliament3.htm

I thought I’d throw this parent site in just in case there were any
other related topics you might be interested in – enjoy!

ENCYLOPAEDIA OF BRITISH HISTORY – 1500-1950
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/industry.html


Below you will find that I have carefully defined my search strategy
for you in the event that you need to search for more information. By
following the same type of searches that I did you may be able to
enhance the research I have provided even further. I hope you find
that that my research exceeds your expectations. If you have any
questions about my research please post a clarification request prior
to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating and your final
comments and I look forward to working with you again in the near
future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga


INFORMATION SOURCES

ENCYLOPAEDIA OF BRITISH HISTORY – 1500-1950
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/industry.html


DIRECTORY OF MP’s, PEERS AND OFFICES
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/alms.htm


SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:


"British Members of Parliament" 1750 present

Past “Members of Parliament” database

Just what I was after, thanks.

You might possibly find the information in the resource listed below. 
However, since it is limited to members of subscribing institutions,
and there is no way for individuals to access the information, even if
prepared to pay, I am unable to verify its potential use for your
query.

BACK    WHAT'S IN KNOWUK 
Who Was Who
The entries from A & C Black's Who's Who of those who have died since
1897 have been transferred together with date of death to Who Was Who.
Now consisting of 100,000 entries in nine printed volumes, Who Was Who
is invaluable in identifying those who shaped the events of their time
as well as providing a record of those who were considered the
influential and leading figures of their day but who may be less
familiar to modern audiences.
A & C Black (Publishers) Ltd
35 Bedford Row
London
WC1R 4JH
who'swho@acblack.co.uk

If your institution has a subscription, you can login at
http://www.knowuk.co.uk/athens or http://www.knowuk.co.uk/password.
Note that your browser must be configured to accept cookies if you
intend to login via Athens.

Thanks for trying that, Tehuti.  My institution doesn't seem to have a
subscription - at least it wouldn't let me in with my Athens username.

jeremymiles-ga

There is a resource that, among other things covers "every
constituency and election between 1690 and 1715. There are nearly
2,000 biographies, giving the lives of every MP in the period."  It is
available on CD-ROM, currently on special offer at £525 - since this
is well over a typical book price, I wasn't sure whether it would be
acceptable as an answer, but I can supply full details if you wish.