Between the late eighteenth century and the mid-nineteenth century the notion of the `polite gentleman' lost its political purchase. `Manliness' became the identifying code of both the business class and the `respectable' working class. The virtues of rugged individualism and personal integrity were emphasised at the expense of sociability and ease of manner. In the political sphere debates about who should be included in the franchise were permeated by the language of manliness, and the politicians with the greatest popular following were hailed as `plain men' possessing a `simple manliness'.