[1] Thomas Pelham, as Chief Secretary for Ireland, was responsible for representing Dublin Castle in the Irish House of Commons.

The preceding years had seen both the growth of the Society of United Irishmen within Ireland, as well as the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars in Europe.

Father James Coigly played an active role in this campaign, distributing printed notices throughout Armagh and encouraging freeholders "to attend to their duty".

He also likely authored the anonymous pamphlet, A view of the present state of Ireland with an account of the origin and progress of the disturbances in that country, which was heavily praised by James Hope.

[4] Henry Grattan, the prominent statesman, former leader of the Patriot Party, and Member of Parliament for Dublin, chose not to contest the election, suffering from ill-health and immense disappointment at both the increasing political polarization in Ireland and the failure of his attempts at Catholic Emancipation.