Capital city meaning "head". In several English-speaking states, the terms county town and county seat are also used in lower subdivisions. In some unitary states, subnational capitals may be known as "administrative centres". The capital is often the largest city of its constituent, though not always. Historically, the major economic centre of a state or region often becomes the focal point of political power, and becomes a capital through conquest or federation. (The modern capital city has, however, not always existed: in medieval Western Europe, an itinerant (wandering) government was common.) Examples are Ancient Babylon, Abbasid Baghdad, Ancient Athens, Rome, Constantinople, Chang'an,
Peregrine Cust (1723–1785) Grantham in 1776, to which seat he was elected. He represented Grantham until 1780, when he again stood for Ilchester, and this time was declared duly elected. He was re-elected to the seat in 1784, and died the following year on 2 January 1785. Peregrine Cust (1723–1785) Peregrine Cust (1723 – 2 January 1785) was a British politician and Member of Parliament (MP). He was also Deputy Chairman of the East India Company in 1769. Cust was born in 1723 and baptized on 19 May 1723. He was the fourth son of Sir Richard Cust, 2nd Baronet, and a younger