John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone facts for kids

Sir John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone, 2nd Baronet (born 28 August 1799 – died 24 February 1869) was an important British Member of Parliament, also known as an MP. He served in the House of Commons for many years, helping to make laws for the country.

Early Life and Family Background

Sir John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone was born into an important family. His father was Sir Richard Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone, 1st Baronet. A "Baronet" is a special title, like a knight, that can be passed down in a family.

When Sir John was only seven years old, his father passed away in 1807. This meant that young John inherited the title and became the 2nd Baronet.

He later married Louisa Augusta Venables-Vernon-Harcourt. She was the daughter of Edward Harcourt, who was the Archbishop of York.

A Career in Politics

Sir John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone spent much of his adult life in politics. He was elected to the House of Commons, which is a key part of the British Parliament.

Representing Yorkshire

In 1830, Sir John was first elected as an MP for Yorkshire. At that time, he belonged to a political group called the Whigs. The Whigs were one of the main political parties in Britain. He held this seat until 1832, when the way constituencies were organized changed.

Serving Scarborough

After the changes in 1832, Sir John was elected to represent the town of Scarborough. He would represent Scarborough for most of the rest of his life.

Changing Political Parties

During his time as an MP, Sir John changed his political party more than once.

• Around 1835, he moved from the Whigs to the Conservatives.
• He lost his seat in 1837 but was re-elected in 1841.
• From 1857 onwards, he sat as a Liberal. The Liberals were another major political party.

He continued to serve as the MP for Scarborough for 28 more years, right up until his death.

Other Interests

Beyond his political work, Sir John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone also had other interests. In 1824, he was chosen as a Vice-President of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. This society was a group of people interested in science, history, and other areas of knowledge.

Later Life and Legacy

Sir John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone passed away in February 1869 at the age of 69. He died from injuries he received in a hunting accident.

His eldest son, Harcourt, took over his father's title as Baronet. Harcourt also became the new Member of Parliament for Scarborough. Later, in 1881, Harcourt was given a new title and became Baron Derwent.

Sir John's wife, Lady Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone, passed away a few months after him, in August 1869.