Sir John Key, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Sir John Key (born August 16, 1794 – died July 14, 1858) was an important English politician and businessman. He started his career as a wholesale stationer, which means he sold paper and writing supplies in large amounts. Later, he became a member of the Whig political party, a group that believed in certain ideas about how the country should be run.

Early Life and Important City Roles

John Key was born in 1794. As he grew up, he became a successful businessman.

Serving London

He took on several important jobs in the City of London, a special part of London with its own government.

• In 1824, he was chosen as the Sheriff of the City of London. A Sheriff was a high-ranking officer who helped keep law and order.
• From 1830 to 1832, he served for two years as the Lord Mayor of London. This is a very important role, like being the main leader of the city.

Political Career

Sir John Key also served in the national government.

Member of Parliament

In 1832, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the City of London. An MP is someone who represents a certain area in the country's main law-making body, called Parliament.

He resigned from Parliament in 1833. To do this, he took a special job called the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds. This was a way for MPs to officially leave their position.

Supporting Key Changes

During his time in Parliament, Sir John Key supported several important ideas:

• He wanted to end slavery.
• He supported changing some taxes.
• He wanted to get rid of the Corn Laws, which were rules about importing grain that made food expensive.
• He believed in having elections more often, every three years.
• He supported voting by secret ballot, so people could vote without others knowing their choice.

Later Life and Legacy

Sir John Key continued to serve the public in different ways.

Becoming a Baronet

In 1831, he was given the special title of Baronet. This meant he became "Sir John Key" and his family would also have a special title. His title was "of Thornbury and Denmark Hill."

Chamberlain of London

In 1853, he ran for the job of Chamberlain of the City of London. This role involved managing the city's money and property. He won the election after a close competition.

Sir John Key passed away on July 14, 1858, while still serving as the Chamberlain. He was buried at West Norwood Cemetery.

Family Life

John Key married Charlotte Green on August 17, 1814. They had five children together:

• Kingsmill Grove (born May 7, 1815)
• Thomas Kelly (born July 10, 1819)
• Elizabeth Susan (born March 13, 1821)
• Lucy Wilson (born November 18, 1822)
• Charlotte Marian (born May 7, 1826)

His daughter, Lucy Wilson Key, married George Parbury on March 22, 1849, in Thornbury, Gloucestershire.