William Neast facts for kids
William Neast (born around 1623 – died around 1670) was an English politician. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like a main part of the government in England. He served there in 1653 and again in 1656.
Early Life and Studies
William Neast was the son of another William Neast, from a family living in Chaceley, Worcestershire. When he was about 15 years old, in 1638, he started studying at Magdalen College, Oxford, which is a famous university. A couple of years later, in 1640, he also joined Middle Temple, which was a place where people studied to become lawyers. In 1651, he became a captain in the army, leading a group of horse riders.
His Time as a Politician
In 1653, William Neast was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Gloucestershire. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the House of Commons. He was part of a special parliament known as Barebone's Parliament. This was a short-lived parliament during a time when England was not ruled by a king.
He was elected again as an MP for Gloucestershire in 1656. This time, he served in the Second Protectorate Parliament. This was another parliament that met during the time England was a republic, before the monarchy was restored. Later, in 1662, he was removed from a local government group called the Common Council in Tewkesbury.
Family Life
William Neast was married to Elizabeth Atwood. She was from a place called Old Sodbury.
