Political career
Atherton entered national politics at an early age and was elected Member of Parliament for Liverpool in 1671. His election was subsequently declared void following a petition, and he did not retain the seat. His political advancement was assisted by connections with influential Lancashire families, including the Molyneux interest.
He remained active in county and borough affairs during the 1670s and 1680s and became associated with the court interest during the later years of the reign of King Charles II. He is said to have been a regular visitor to the Court of Charles II. He received a knighthood months after the aftermath of the Rye House Plot of 1683 (a plot to assassinate the King), a period of trials and executions. These were politically turbulent times, leading to the rebellion of 1685, the Monmouth Rebellion and Argyll's Rising. The ceremony took place on 22 June 1684 at Windsor Castle.
Whilst his father had been a parliamentarian who fought against the royalists, Atherton’s political career took place during the period of Restoration covering the reign of Charles II (1660–1685) and the brief reign of his younger brother James II (1685–1688).
His terms in office from Member of Parliament during the 1670s, followed by Mayor and Alderman of Liverpool, covered the whole Restoration period of the House of Stuart, which ended with the death of Queen Anne. The growth of Liverpool had accelerated since 1660, by trading with America and the West Indies in cloth, coal and salt from Lancashire and Cheshire in exchange for sugar and tobacco. Atherton was first elected as Member of Parliament for Liverpool in 1671, on the interest
of Lord Molyneaux, but was unseated on petition.
