John Hardres facts for kids
John Hardres (born October 2, 1675 – died January 14, 1758) was an English politician from Canterbury. He was a member of the House of Commons of England and later the House of Commons of Great Britain. These were important parts of the country's government, similar to today's Parliament. John Hardres served in Parliament during two different times between 1705 and 1722.
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Early Life and Education
John Hardres was the son of Thomas Hardres, who also lived in Canterbury. He went to Wadham College, Oxford, which is a famous university. This education helped prepare him for his future in politics.
Serving in Parliament
John Hardres became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Canterbury. An MP is someone elected by the people to represent them in Parliament and help make laws.
He was first elected in 1705 and served until 1708. After a short break, he was elected again in 1710. He continued to serve as Canterbury's MP until 1722.
Special Laws
In 1711, John Hardres needed a special law, called an Act of Parliament, to be passed. This law allowed him to sell some land he owned in Kent. It also helped him arrange other land for specific purposes. This shows how MPs sometimes used their position to deal with personal or family matters through legal means.
Political Views and Retirement
John Hardres's political opinions were not always clear. He often voted against the government's plans. However, he did support one important proposal called the Peerage Bill. This bill was about who could be a peer (a noble person with a special title).
In 1721, he received money from the King through a powerful person named Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland. At the same time, some people thought he might support the Jacobites. The Jacobites were a group who wanted to bring back the old royal family to the throne. His name was even sent to the Pretender, who was the Jacobite leader, as a possible supporter.
However, John Hardres retired from Parliament in 1722. This happened before he had to clearly state his views on these sensitive political issues.
Later Life
John Hardres lived to be 82 years old. He passed away on January 14, 1758. He had two daughters who were still alive when he died.
