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Last Garrat Elections

When
1796
Where
Wandsworth, Surrey (now part of London)
Episodes
1

The Garrat Elections were a carnival of mock elections held in Wandsworth, Surrey, during the 18th century. The tradition, sustained for at least fifty years, effectively ended after the death of Mayor "Sir" Harry Dimsdale in 1796, following his victory in that year's contest.

Episodes

  1. 1796 · Wandsworth, Surrey (now part of London)Final Garrat Election of 1796

    In 1796, Sir Harry Dimsdale won the mock Garrat Election as a new candidate, but his death before the next election ended the tradition.

Background and detail

Background. The Garrat Elections were a carnival of mock elections staged in Wandsworth, Surrey (now part of London), England, during the 18th century. The event formed a local tradition of satirical political pageantry rather than a genuine electoral contest.

Decline and End. The elections were held for at least fifty years before declining after the death of Mayor "Sir" Harry Dimsdale in 1796. Dimsdale had won the 1796 contest as a new candidate, but he died before the next election could be held, ending the tradition.

People involved

Sources

  1. Garrat Elections Wikipedia, revision of 2026-04-16

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.