John Bromley (the elder) facts for kids

John Bromley (born around 1652, died 1707) was an important English politician and a landowner. He owned large farms, called plantations, in Barbados, which is an island in the Caribbean Sea. He also lived at Horseheath Hall in Cambridgeshire, England.

Who Was John Bromley?

John Bromley was a notable figure in both the Caribbean and England during the late 1600s and early 1700s. We don't know much about where he came from originally. However, he became very successful and held several important positions.

Early Life and Moving to Barbados

John Bromley moved to the island of Barbados, which was an English colony at the time. This was a place where many large farms, called plantations, grew valuable crops like sugar. Owning these plantations made him quite wealthy.

A Leader in Barbados

Bromley became involved in politics in the Caribbean. In 1678, he was a member of the Assembly in Montserrat, another Caribbean island. Later, he served in the Assembly in Barbados from 1685 to 1690. The Assembly was like a local government body, where important decisions were made. He even became the "Speaker" of the Assembly in Barbados from 1689 to 1690. The Speaker is the person who leads the meetings and makes sure rules are followed.

He also served on the Barbados council for several years: from June 1690 to 1693, and again from 1696 to after 1698. The council helped govern the island.

Life in England

After his time in Barbados, John Bromley returned to England. He bought a large estate called Horseheath in Cambridgeshire. This allowed him to live the life of an "English squire," which meant he was a respected country gentleman who owned land. He also took on local responsibilities, like being a Deputy-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. This role involved helping to maintain order and organize local military forces.

Serving in Parliament

John Bromley continued his political career in England. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Cambridgeshire. An MP is a person elected to represent their area in the Parliament of England, where national laws are made. He served as an MP from 1705 until he passed away in October 1707.

Family and Legacy

John Bromley died in 1707 and was buried at Horseheath. He was married to a woman named Dorothy, and they had two sons. His oldest son, also named John, inherited the Horseheath estate and also took over his father's seat in Parliament. This meant the family continued to have a strong presence in both local land ownership and national politics.