Peter King (British politician)

He won some fame as an advocate of reform, responsible for the passing of the Real Estate Charges Act 1854, and for the repeal of many obsolete laws.

He retained his seat until more entrenched partisanship set in and a Conservative reaction defeated him at the general election in February 1874.

[2] On 11 August 1854 he passed the Real Estate Charges Act, under which mortgages after the debtor's demise limit themselves to the property itself (they "descend with and bear their own burdens").

King introduced a bill for abolishing the property qualification of members, which passed the House of Lords on 28 June 1858, and in eight successive sessions he brought forward the county [equality of the] franchise bill, on one occasion, 20 February 1851, defeating and causing the resignation of the ministry led by fellow Whig, (Earl) Russell.

[2] He piloted through the Commons the bill that extended the £10 (rental value of home per annum, whether owned or let) franchise to the county constituencies, i.e. as for every adult male who qualified for borough suffrage.

He was well known for his advocacy for every man to have the ballot and for abolition of church rates, and for his strenuous opposition to the principle and practice alike of endowments for religious purposes.