he was whig member of parliament for buckingham, 1810–1812. this was a rotten borough controlled by the grenvilles. at the general election of 1812 nugent was returned to parliament for the borough of aylesbury; but in 1818 he was in some danger of losing his seat in consequence of his brother richard, then by courtesy the marquess of buckingham, having joined the ministry. nugent stood in his own interest, however, and was returned. he fought another successful contest in 1831, and remained one of the members for aylesbury until the dissolution in 1832.