William Yorke
Encyclopedia
William Yorke was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons
in two periods between 1654 and 1666.
Yorke was the son of William Yorke of Bassett Down, Lydiard Tregoze and his wife Anne Stampe, daughter of Simon Stampe of Oxfordshire. He matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford
on 25 May 1627, aged 17 and was awarded BA in 1630. He entered Inner Temple
in 1630 and was called to the bar in 1637. He was commissioner for excise for Wiltshire in 1644 and was JP for Wiltshire for the first time between 1646 and 1651. He became a bencher of his Inn in 1652 and was JP again from 1652 to 1657. He also became deputy governor for the Society of Mineral and Battery Works in 1652 and remained in post until his death
In 1654, Yorke was elected Member of Parliament
for Wiltshire
in the First Protectorate Parliament
. He was assistant of the Society of Mines Royal from 1654 to 1655 and deputy governor of the society from 1655 until his death. In 1657 he was commissioner for assessment for WIltshire and became JP again, remaining until his death. He was commissioner for assessment for Wiltshire again from January 1660 until his death. He inherited the estates of his father in 1660. He became a freeman of Devizes in 1660 and became recorder in 1661. In 1661 he was elected MP for Devizes
in the Cavalier Parliament
. He was an alderman of Devizes from 1662 until his death.
Yorke died at the age of 56 and was buried in the Temple Church on 26 November 1666.
Yorke married Elizabeth Danvers, widow of Henry Danvers of Baynton, Edington, and daughter of William Bower of West Lavington, before 27 October 1646.
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...
in two periods between 1654 and 1666.
Yorke was the son of William Yorke of Bassett Down, Lydiard Tregoze and his wife Anne Stampe, daughter of Simon Stampe of Oxfordshire. He matriculated at Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
on 25 May 1627, aged 17 and was awarded BA in 1630. He entered Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1630 and was called to the bar in 1637. He was commissioner for excise for Wiltshire in 1644 and was JP for Wiltshire for the first time between 1646 and 1651. He became a bencher of his Inn in 1652 and was JP again from 1652 to 1657. He also became deputy governor for the Society of Mineral and Battery Works in 1652 and remained in post until his death
In 1654, Yorke 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 Wiltshire
Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Wiltshire was a constituency of the House of Commons of England from 1290 to 1707, of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament , elected by the bloc vote...
in 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....
. He was assistant of the Society of Mines Royal from 1654 to 1655 and deputy governor of the society from 1655 until his death. In 1657 he was commissioner for assessment for WIltshire and became JP again, remaining until his death. He was commissioner for assessment for Wiltshire again from January 1660 until his death. He inherited the estates of his father in 1660. He became a freeman of Devizes in 1660 and became recorder in 1661. In 1661 he was elected MP for Devizes
Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)
Devizes is a parliamentary constituency in Wiltshire, England, which is now represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and before 1707 in the House of Commons of England....
in the Cavalier Parliament
Cavalier Parliament
The Cavalier Parliament of England lasted from 8 May 1661 until 24 January 1679. It was the longest English Parliament, enduring for nearly 18 years of the quarter century reign of Charles II of England...
. He was an alderman of Devizes from 1662 until his death.
Yorke died at the age of 56 and was buried in the Temple Church on 26 November 1666.
Yorke married Elizabeth Danvers, widow of Henry Danvers of Baynton, Edington, and daughter of William Bower of West Lavington, before 27 October 1646.