Daniel Hutchinson facts for kids

Daniel Hutchinson lived around the 1650s. He was an Irish Protestant merchant from Dublin. He supported the English government during the time when Oliver Cromwell and his army were in charge of Ireland.

During a period when England did not have a king (called the Interregnum), Daniel Hutchinson held many important jobs. He was the Mayor of Dublin, which means he was the main leader of the city. He was also a member of two different parliaments, which are groups that make laws. These were the Barebones Parliament and the First Protectorate Parliament. He also served as the Sheriff for Dublin and Wicklow counties, helping with law and order. Plus, he was the Treasurer of Public Revenue, managing the government's money in Ireland.

Biography of Daniel Hutchinson

Early Roles in Dublin

Daniel Hutchinson became the Mayor of Dublin in 1652. During his time as mayor, he was asked to help set up a group. This group's job was to encourage English soldiers who had finished fighting, and others who supported the English government, to move to and live in Ireland.

In 1653, Daniel Hutchinson was chosen to be one of six members from Ireland to join the Barebones Parliament. This was a special parliament that met for a short time. In the same year, he also joined a committee. This committee worked on laws that were meant to help poor people.

Helping Others and Public Service

In 1655, Daniel Hutchinson was part of another important committee. He worked with two other Dublin merchants, Thomas Hooke and John Preston. Their job was to collect money to help the Waldensians. These were a group of Protestants who were being treated badly in France at that time.

By 1656, Hutchinson was the High Sheriff for both Dublin and Wicklow. This was a key role in local government and law enforcement. He also bought land rights from people called Adventurers. These Adventurers had helped fund the English conquest of Ireland. Hutchinson also lent money to the government led by Oliver Cromwell. He was also an elder, which is a leader, in the Church of St. Nicholas Within.

Prominent Merchants of the Time

Before the English took control of Ireland under Cromwell, Daniel Hutchinson and Thomas Hooke were not part of the main group of powerful merchants in Dublin. This powerful group usually belonged to the Dublin Merchant Guild. However, during the time without a king, Hutchinson, Hooke, Preston, and Richard Tighe became very important merchants.

All these men served as aldermen, which are senior members of a city council. They all became Mayors of Dublin. They also all attended the same church, the Church of St. Nicholas Within. This church was led by Dr. Samuel Winter and was an "independent" congregation, meaning it ran itself without a larger church structure. Thomas Hooke, like Hutchinson, was also an elder in this church.