George Hudson Bentinck introduced a bill to build a railway network in Ireland. The cost of the proposal was £16 million which George Hudson, no doubt sensing an opportunity, supported. The government did not support the bill which was ultimately defeated. In the run up to the 1852 general election Hudson – who by this time was in severe financial difficulty – spoke on several issues including a repeal of a timber tax and on a corrupt practices bill. He was re-elected by 54 votes in the election but with his railway career in decline and drinking heavily he presented rather a
George Gipps (MP for Canterbury) of Canterbury. He had also taken the lease of Hall Place in Harbledown. The election of 28 May 1796 was declared void in March 1797 and he was reinstated as MP for Canterbury and remained until 1800. Gipps married firstly Elizabeth Johanna Roberts daughter of John Roberts of Harbledown on 2 August 1755. He married secondly on 27 November 1780 Sarah Stanton, daughter of William Stanton. He married thirdly Elizabeth Lawrence, daughter of Thomas Lawrence MD on 18 January 1792. He had two sons by his second wife, of whom George Gipps also became an MP. George Gipps (MP for