Sligo was enfranchised by a 1713/4 charter of 11 James I which established a corporation to comprise a provost and 24 (named) burgesses. This evolved into a corporation of a provost and 12 free burgesses, and in 1783 it was described as 'a rotten and venal Borough under the sole direction of the Patron'. Nevertheless, Sligo was a thriving town with a population of 6,000.354 'The Provost receives £100 p.a. from the Patron and the income from the corporate property of £136 3s 4d. The corporation have from time to time appointed a weighmaster.'
There was at one time a conflict in the corporation between the Ormsbys and the Wynnes - the former (1607) felt that they had been treated harshly by the latter - but later in the century the Wynnes' control was absolute, and in 1790:
Its electors, if they deserve that name, being confined to a small number of Burgesses, who are ever appointed agreeably to the pleasure of Mr Wynne whose private property it is, and whose recommendation always nominates its representatives. It is seldom exposed to sale but some branch of the Wynne family and some gentleman whose interest may be decisive of the County election are, in general, its Members. Thus the servility of its voters seems sanctioned by an attachment to the proprietor's interest and their submission to his dictates governed alone by confidential adherence.355
Sligo's electorate continued unchanged until 1832. Wynne either made a financial arrangement for the seat or returned himself.356
