John Glanville facts for kids
Sir John Glanville the younger (born 1586, died 1661) was an important English politician. He served in the House of Commons, which is like a part of today's Parliament. He was even the Speaker during a short period of Parliament. Sir John supported King Charles I during the English Civil War. This was a big conflict between the King and Parliament.
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Sir John Glanville's Early Life and Career
Sir John Glanville was born in 1586. His father, also named Sir John Glanville, was a judge and a Member of Parliament. Young John studied law at Lincoln's Inn. He became a lawyer on February 6, 1610.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 1614, Sir John became the Recorder of Plymouth. This was a legal role, like a judge for the city. That same year, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Liskeard. Later, he became an MP for Plymouth in 1621 and was re-elected in 1624.
Working with the Lord Admiral
In 1625, Sir John worked for the Lord Admiral of the Fleet. This was during an attack on Cádiz in Spain. He also helped with legal actions against the Lord Admiral later on. Sir John was re-elected as MP for Plymouth in 1625. He often disagreed with the King's government in the 1620s. He even wrote a protest when Parliament was closed down in 1625. He continued to be an MP for Plymouth in 1626 and 1628. Parliament then stopped meeting for eleven years, as King Charles I decided to rule without it.
Legal and Political Roles
In 1630, Glanville became a Reader at his law school. This meant he taught law. He became a serjeant-at-law in 1637. This was a very senior type of lawyer. He also became the Recorder of Bristol in 1638.
Speaker of the Short Parliament
In April 1640, he was elected MP for Bristol. This Parliament was called the Short Parliament because it didn't last long. Sir John served as its Speaker. As Speaker, he spoke strongly against a tax called "ship money." This tax was very unpopular. The King's supporters even tried to stop him from coming to Parliament on the day it was dissolved.
Supporting the King
Despite this, Sir John became the King's Serjeant in July 1640. From this time on, he supported King Charles I. In November 1640, he was re-elected as MP for Bristol for the Long Parliament. He was made a knight in August 1641, becoming "Sir" John Glanville.
English Civil War and Later Life
During the English Civil War, Sir John sat in the King's Parliament in Oxford. He received a special law degree from the University of Oxford in 1644. Later that year, he was removed from Parliament. He also lost his job as Recorder of Bristol.
In 1645, Parliament imprisoned him in the Tower of London. He was released in 1648. He had to pay a large fine of £2,320 for supporting the King. In 1659, he was elected as an MP again, but he was not allowed to serve. After the King returned to power in 1660, Sir John was again made the King's Serjeant. He passed away on October 2, 1661.
Family Life
Sir John Glanville married Winifred Bourchier around 1613. She was from Barnsley, Gloucestershire. They had several sons:
- Francis Glanville: He was a soldier who fought for the King during the English Civil War. Colonel Francis Glanville was killed in 1645. This happened when Parliament's army attacked the town of Bridgwater, which the King's forces held. There is a monument to him in a church at Broad Hinton. It shows him as a standing statue in armor. His real armor is displayed above the monument.
- William Glanville: He was Sir John's heir, meaning he inherited his father's property. William also became an MP for Camelford. He died in 1680.
- Julius Glanville: Another son of Sir John.
