Background
Lopes was born as Ralph Franco.
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
Lopes was born as Ralph Franco.
On his uncle"s death in 1831 he inherited both the baronetcy and his estate, a condition of which was that he change his surname to Lopes. Included in the estate was the right to nominate the MPs at Westbury (though this did not survive the Great Reform Acting of the following year), and he resumed his seat for the borough. Having been three times elected unopposed, Ralph switched his loyalties during the 1835 Parliament from the Whigs back to the Conservatives, and at the 1837 election a Whig candidate stood against him and defeated him, by the narrow margin of 98 votes to 96.
However, at the next election, in 1841, Lopes was once again elected unopposed, this time as a Conservative.
In 1847 he stood down in Westbury, not contesting the election, but two years later he returned to the Commons at a by-election for the Southern Devon county division. He held this seat until his death in 1854.
Conservative Party, Tories.
5th United Kingdom Parliament. 6th United Kingdom Parliament. 10th United Kingdom Parliament.
11th United Kingdom Parliament.
12th United Kingdom Parliament. 14th United Kingdom Parliament.
15th United Kingdom Parliament. 16th United Kingdom Parliament.