John Sawbridge

With John Horne Tooke, James Townsend, Richard Oliver, and others, he helped to form the Supporters of the Bill of Rights.

During his shrievalty he five times returned Wilkes as duly elected for Middlesex, in defiance of the house, and was threatened with a bill of pains and penalties from the government.

At the election the show of hands was declared in favour of Sawbridge and Crosby, but a poll was demanded for four other candidates, Bankes, Nash, Hallifax, and Townsend.

[6] He was defeated in London at the general election in September 1780,[6] but one of his successors, John Kirkman, who died on the day when the polls closed and had been returned posthumously.

[6] Sawbridge was returned without a contest at the resulting by-election in November 1780,[6] and was re-elected in 1784[7] and 1790,[8] holding the seat until his death on 21 February 1795, aged 62.