1817 Speaker of the British House of Commons election  The 1817 election of the Speaker of the House of Commons occurred on 2 June 1817. The incumbent Speaker Charles Abbot had resigned due to ill health. Charles Manners-Sutton was proposed by Sir John Nicholl and seconded by E. J. Littleton. Charles Williams-Wynn was proposed by William Dickinson and seconded by Sir Matthew White Ridley. Both candidates addressed the House. A debate followed. On the motion ""That the Right Honourable Charles Manners Sutton do take the chair of this House as Speaker"," Manners-Sutton was elected by 312 votes to 152 (Hansard gives the votes against as 150).