Sir John Cropley, 2nd Baronet facts for kids

Sir John Cropley, 2nd Baronet (born July 15, 1663 – died October 22, 1713), was an English politician. He was a member of the Whig party, which was one of the main political groups at the time. Sir John served in the English and British Parliament as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1701 to 1710. He lived in an area called Red Lion Square.

Early Life of Sir John Cropley

John Cropley was born on July 15, 1663. He was the only son of Sir Edward Cropley and Martha Wilson. His family lived in Clerkenwell, Middlesex.

When he was very young, in 1665, his father passed away. He then inherited his father's estate. In 1676, his grandfather died, and John became the 2nd Baronet. This meant he inherited a special title that was passed down in his family.

John went to Clare College, Cambridge, in 1678 to study. Later, from 1686 to 1689, he traveled through Italy, France, and Germany. During these travels, he became very good friends with Anthony Ashley-Cooper, who later became the 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury.

Sir John Cropley's Political Career

Sir John Cropley became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Shaftesbury in 1701. He ran as a Whig candidate and won without anyone running against him, thanks to the support of his friend, Anthony Ashley-Cooper.

Serving in Parliament

He was re-elected without opposition in the 1702 election. He continued to serve as an MP for Shaftesbury. In the 1705 election, he was again re-elected unopposed as a Whig MP. He voted for the person the King's government wanted to be Speaker of the House of Commons.

Over time, Sir John started to act more independently within the Whig party. He sometimes disagreed with the main leaders of the Whigs, known as the Whig Junto. Even though he didn't seek a job for himself, he helped his friend Ashley try to get a position for their relative, Thomas Micklethwayte.

Later Years in Politics

In the 1708 election, Sir John was re-elected as a Whig MP without opposition. He then generally supported the Whig party's policies. In 1709, he voted to allow people from a region called Palatine to become British citizens. In 1710, he voted for the impeachment (a formal accusation of wrongdoing) of a person named Dr. Sacheverell.

However, in the 1710 election, Sir John lost his seat in Parliament. This was partly because many people supported Dr. Sacheverell.

Life After Parliament

After losing his seat, Sir John Cropley did not run for Parliament again. His friend, Lord Shaftesbury, had moved abroad due to poor health. Because of this, Sir John became a guardian for Lord Shaftesbury's child and managed his friend's estate for the next three years.

Sir John Cropley passed away on October 22, 1713. He was never married. He left his estate, which was worth about £4,000 a year, to Thomas Micklethwayte. After Sir John's death, the baronetcy title in his family came to an end because he had no children to inherit it.