John Peyton (soldier) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir John Peyton
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A miniature of Sir John Peyton, painted around 1603
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| Governor of Jersey | |
| In office August 1603 – 1603 |
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| Personal details | |
| Parents | John Peyton and Dorothy Peyton |
Sir John Peyton (born 1544, died 1630) was an important English soldier and government leader. He was born in a place called Knowlton, Kent. His parents were John and Dorothy Peyton. He later became the Governor of Jersey.
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Sir John Peyton's Life and Career
Sir John Peyton had a long and interesting career. He was a soldier, a member of Parliament, and a governor.
Starting in Parliament
Sir John Peyton first became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1572. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the government. He represented the town of King's Lynn. He was chosen for this role again in 1584 and 1593.
A Knight and a Soldier
In 1586, he was made a knight. This means he received a special honor from the Queen. He worked for a powerful leader named Robert Dudley. From 1586 to 1587, he was a Lieutenant-Governor in a place called Bergen op Zoom.
In 1588, Sir John Peyton was a colonel in the army. He helped defend England against the Spanish Armada. This was a large fleet of ships from Spain that tried to invade England. He also served as the Sheriff of Norfolk in 1588. A sheriff was a top law enforcement officer in a county.
Important Roles
In 1596, he became a deputy lieutenant for Cambridgeshire. This role helped organize the local military. In 1597, he was elected as an MP again, this time for Middlesex.
From 1597 to 1603, Sir John Peyton was the lieutenant of the Tower of London. This was a very important prison. While he was there, he was kind to Sir Walter Raleigh, who was a famous explorer and writer held prisoner. Sir John Peyton was an MP for the last time in 1601, representing Weymouth.
Governor of Jersey
After his time at the Tower of London, Sir John Peyton became the Governor of Jersey. He held this important position from 1603 until he passed away in 1630. Before him, Sir Walter Raleigh had been the Governor of Jersey.
Family Life
On June 8, 1578, Sir John Peyton married Dorothy Bell. She was a widow with eight children. Dorothy also owned land in Norfolk. This marriage helped Sir John Peyton gain a stronger position in the county. Together, they had one son, who was also named Sir John Peyton.
