John Ramsden (died 1665) facts for kids
John Ramsden was an important English politician who lived from about 1612 to 1665. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like the main part of the UK Parliament today. He served there in 1659 and 1660.
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Who Was John Ramsden?
John Ramsden's father, also named John, was a successful merchant in Hull. A merchant is someone who buys and sells goods, often in large amounts. His father sold cloth to other countries. Sadly, his father died from the plague while serving as the Mayor of Hull for the second time.
Working in Hull
John Ramsden followed in his father's footsteps, becoming involved in the city of Hull. In 1640, he became an alderman of Hull. An alderman was a senior member of the city council. He also served as a chamberlain, which meant he managed the city's money.
Later, he became the sheriff of Hull from 1644 to 1645. A sheriff was a very important local official. From 1648 to 1649, John Ramsden was the Mayor of Hull. The mayor is the head of the city government.
Important City Roles
Ramsden also held other important jobs in Hull:
- In 1648, he was a commissioner for militia. This meant he helped organize the local citizen army.
- In 1649, he became a commissioner for assessment. This role involved helping to collect taxes for the government.
- In 1659, he was a commissioner for sewers in the East Riding area. These commissioners were in charge of maintaining drainage systems.
A Difficult Time
In 1650, John Ramsden lost his city jobs. This happened because he refused to take an oath to the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth was the government that ruled England after the King was removed. Taking an oath meant promising loyalty to this new government.
A Member of Parliament
Even after losing his city roles, John Ramsden continued his political career. In 1659, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston upon Hull. He served in the Third Protectorate Parliament.
He was elected again as an MP for Hull in April 1660. This time, he served in the Convention Parliament. This Parliament was very important because it helped bring the King back to power.
After Parliament
After his time in Parliament, Ramsden took on more roles:
- In August 1660, he became a commissioner for assessment again, helping with taxes for Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.
- In September 1660, he was once more a commissioner for sewers in the East Riding.
In the 1661 general election, he did not get enough votes to become an MP again. He also chose not to return to his old role as an alderman.
John Ramsden's Family and End of Life
John Ramsden married a woman named Joyce Wynn. They had two sons and one daughter.
It is believed that John Ramsden passed away in 1665. His name was not on the list of local officials in 1666, which suggests he was no longer alive.
