John Clarke (died 1681)
Encyclopedia
John Clarke was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
between 1653 and 1660.
Clarke was the son of John Clarke of Bocking, Essex. He was an alderman of Bury St. Edmunds by 1648 and remained until 1662. In 1648 he was collector of assessments for Suffolk and commissioner for militia for Suffolk. He was commissioner for assessment for Bury from 1648 to 1652 and for Suffolk from 1649 to 1652. He was a J.P.
for Suffolk from 1650 to March 1660 and was a commissioner of the high court of justice in 1650.
In 1653, Clarke was nominated as Member of Parliament
for Suffolk
in the Barebones Parliament
. He was elected MP for Bury St Edmunds
in 1654 for the First Protectorate Parliament
and was a commissioner for scandalous ministers in the same year. From 1655 to 1656 he was commissioner for security. In 1656 he was re-elected MP for Bury St Edmunds in the Second Protectorate Parliament
. He was commissioner for assessment for Suffolk and Bury in 1657. In 1659, he was commissioner for militia for Suffolk and was elected Member of Parliament
for Bury St Edmunds
in the Third Protectorate Parliament
. He was commissioner for assessment for Suffolk in January 1660 and commissioner for militia for Bury in March 1660. In April 1660 he was re-elected MP for Bury St Edmunds for the Convention Parliament when he was involved in a double return. He was allowed to take his seat and then unseated. He was High Sheriff of Suffolk
from 1670 to 1671.
Clarke died in November 1681 and was buried in St Mary’s churchyard, Bury St Edmunds.
Clarke married Margaret Bourne of Bury St. Edmunds and had a son Samuel who was created baronet
in 1698 and a daughter.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
between 1653 and 1660.
Clarke was the son of John Clarke of Bocking, Essex. He was an alderman of Bury St. Edmunds by 1648 and remained until 1662. In 1648 he was collector of assessments for Suffolk and commissioner for militia for Suffolk. He was commissioner for assessment for Bury from 1648 to 1652 and for Suffolk from 1649 to 1652. He was a J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Suffolk from 1650 to March 1660 and was a commissioner of the high court of justice in 1650.
In 1653, Clarke was nominated as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Suffolk
Suffolk (UK Parliament constituency)
Suffolk was a county constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1290 until 1832, when it was split into two divisions.-Boundaries and franchise:...
in the Barebones Parliament
Barebones Parliament
Barebone's Parliament, also known as the Little Parliament, the Nominated Assembly and the Parliament of Saints, came into being on 4 July 1653, and was the last attempt of the English Commonwealth to find a stable political form before the installation of Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector...
. He was elected MP for Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds (UK Parliament constituency)
Bury St Edmunds is a county constituency located in Suffolk and centred on the town of Bury St Edmunds. It elects one Member of Parliament to in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in 1654 for the First Protectorate Parliament
First Protectorate Parliament
The First Protectorate Parliament was summoned by the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell under the terms of the Instrument of Government. It sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with William Lenthall as the Speaker of the House....
and was a commissioner for scandalous ministers in the same year. From 1655 to 1656 he was commissioner for security. In 1656 he was re-elected MP for Bury St Edmunds in the Second Protectorate Parliament
Second Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons...
. He was commissioner for assessment for Suffolk and Bury in 1657. In 1659, he was commissioner for militia for Suffolk and was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds (UK Parliament constituency)
Bury St Edmunds is a county constituency located in Suffolk and centred on the town of Bury St Edmunds. It elects one Member of Parliament to in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in the Third Protectorate Parliament
Third Protectorate Parliament
The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons...
. He was commissioner for assessment for Suffolk in January 1660 and commissioner for militia for Bury in March 1660. In April 1660 he was re-elected MP for Bury St Edmunds for the Convention Parliament when he was involved in a double return. He was allowed to take his seat and then unseated. He was High Sheriff of Suffolk
High Sheriff of Suffolk
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Suffolk. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually by the Crown. He was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county and presided at the Assizes and other important county meetings...
from 1670 to 1671.
Clarke died in November 1681 and was buried in St Mary’s churchyard, Bury St Edmunds.
Clarke married Margaret Bourne of Bury St. Edmunds and had a son Samuel who was created baronet
Clarke Baronets
There have been five Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Clarke , two in the Baronetage of England and three in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
in 1698 and a daughter.