John Coucher facts for kids
John Coucher (born in 1561) was an English businessman and politician. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like a part of the government, at different times between 1604 and 1648.
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Who Was John Coucher?
John Coucher was the son of another John Coucher from Worcester. He worked as a weaver, making cloth. In 1590, he became one of the first helpers in the Clothier's Company, a group for people who made and sold cloth.
He also held important local jobs in Worcester. He was chosen as the bailiff (a local official, like a mayor) of Worcester in 1593 and again in 1595.
John Coucher's Time in Parliament
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 1604, John Coucher was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Worcester. An MP is someone chosen by people to represent them in the House of Commons.
He was re-elected as an MP for Worcester several times:
- In 1614
- In 1621
- In 1624
In 1621, he also became an alderman in Worcester. An alderman was another important local leader in the city.
Challenges in Parliament
John Coucher was elected again for Worcester in 1628. He served until 1629. At this time, King Charles I decided to rule England without calling Parliament for eleven years. This was a very unusual period in English history.
In 1631, John Coucher had to pay a fine of £10. This was because he did not accept a knighthood from the King during the coronation.
Later Years in Politics
Even when he was 79 years old, John Coucher was elected as an MP again. This was for the Short Parliament in April 1640. He was also elected for the Long Parliament in November 1640.
He tried to avoid being elected because of his age. However, he was chosen anyway. He probably never actually took his seat in the Long Parliament. He was often excused from attending meetings because he was so old. John Coucher was still alive in 1648.
