Mhairi Black, the 20-year-old SNP MP elected in May, has been widely described as the youngest MP since 1667. A letter to The Times shortly after the election from Professor Lord (Philip) Norton, the historian and Tory constitutional expert, pointed out that there were no fewer than 81 MPs of Ms Black’s age or younger in the 18th century (though none since the 1832 Reform Bill). Nevertheless, an article in The Times on July 15 repeated the original error.
Alistair Lexden sent in the following correction, which was published on July 18: “81 MPs were elected and took their seats while under the age of 21 in the 18th century including Charles James Fox, elected when he was 19”.
As it happens, another famous man, the future Duke of Wellington, was elected to the Irish Parliament in 1790 when he was 20. (That Parliament was abolished eleven years later as a result of the Act of Union).