John Manley (MP)
Encyclopedia
John Manley was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
at various times between 1659 and 1690. He was Post Master General during the Commonwealth.
Manley was the son of of Cornelius Manley of Erbistock, Denbighshire. He was offered the sum of £8259 19s.11 3/4d. for forming the Post Office, inland and foreign on 29 June 1653 when it was offered for tender. At Midsummer 1653 he was appointed Postmaster General when he took the farm of the Letter Office at a contract of £10,000. Captain John Manley and his servant were granted a pass to to go to Holland on 4 April 1655 under a warrant of the Protector and his Council. The Council of State ordered Secretary John Thurloe
to manage the Post Office on 24 April 1655.
Manley was commissioner for assessment for Denbighshire in 1657. In 1659 he was commissioner for assessment for North Wales, captain of the militia of Denbighshire and a J.P.
for Denbighshire. He was also elected Member of Parliament
for Denbigh Boroughs
.
On the Restoration Manley was at Bryn-y-Ffynon where his strong religious and political views attracted attention. He then became a brewer in London, but his premises were destroyed in the Great Fire of London
. He was wealthy enough to serve as Master of the Worshipful Company of Skinners
from 1674 to 1674.In 1678, following the death of his wife, he was granted 370 acres in Carolina. He was a major of horse in the army of the Duke of Monmouth in 1685, and escaped to Holland after the defeat of the Rebellion. In 1688 he accompanied William of Orange to England. He was elected MP for Bridport
in 1689. In 1690 he was a colonel in the army.
Manley was in a debtors prison by 1698 and suffering from the dead palsy. He was given a pension of £50 a quarter, but died after he had drawn only three payments. He was buried at St Stephen Walbrook on 31 January 1699.
Manley married Margaret Dorislaus daughter of Isaac Dorislaus
, who was murdered at the Hague when Ambassador from the Commonwealth to the States General. His son John Manley was MP for Bossiney and Camelford. His other son Isaac became postmaster-general of Ireland and sat in the Parliament of Ireland. Manley's brother, Sir Francis Manley of Erbistock, was a judge of North Wales.
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...
at various times between 1659 and 1690. He was Post Master General during the Commonwealth.
Manley was the son of of Cornelius Manley of Erbistock, Denbighshire. He was offered the sum of £8259 19s.11 3/4d. for forming the Post Office, inland and foreign on 29 June 1653 when it was offered for tender. At Midsummer 1653 he was appointed Postmaster General when he took the farm of the Letter Office at a contract of £10,000. Captain John Manley and his servant were granted a pass to to go to Holland on 4 April 1655 under a warrant of the Protector and his Council. The Council of State ordered Secretary John Thurloe
John Thurloe
John Thurloe was a secretary to the council of state in Protectorate England and spymaster for Oliver Cromwell.-Life:...
to manage the Post Office on 24 April 1655.
Manley was commissioner for assessment for Denbighshire in 1657. In 1659 he was commissioner for assessment for North Wales, captain of the militia of Denbighshire and 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 Denbighshire. He was also 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 Denbigh Boroughs
Denbigh Boroughs (UK Parliament constituency)
Denbigh District of Boroughs was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Denbigh in Wales. It returned one Member of Parliament to the British House of Commons.The constituency first returned an MP in 1542, to the English Parliament...
.
On the Restoration Manley was at Bryn-y-Ffynon where his strong religious and political views attracted attention. He then became a brewer in London, but his premises were destroyed in the Great Fire of London
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall...
. He was wealthy enough to serve as Master of the Worshipful Company of Skinners
Worshipful Company of Skinners
The Worshipful Company of Skinners is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. It was originally an association of those engaged in the trade of skins and furs...
from 1674 to 1674.In 1678, following the death of his wife, he was granted 370 acres in Carolina. He was a major of horse in the army of the Duke of Monmouth in 1685, and escaped to Holland after the defeat of the Rebellion. In 1688 he accompanied William of Orange to England. He was elected MP for Bridport
Bridport (UK Parliament constituency)
Bridport was a parliamentary borough in Dorset, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1868, and then one member from 1868 until 1885, when the borough was abolished.-History:...
in 1689. In 1690 he was a colonel in the army.
Manley was in a debtors prison by 1698 and suffering from the dead palsy. He was given a pension of £50 a quarter, but died after he had drawn only three payments. He was buried at St Stephen Walbrook on 31 January 1699.
Manley married Margaret Dorislaus daughter of Isaac Dorislaus
Isaac Dorislaus
Isaac Dorislaus was an Anglo-Dutch lawyer and diplomat.He was the son of a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. He was educated at Leiden, removed to England about 1627, and was appointed to a lectureship in history at Cambridge, where his attempt to justify the Dutch revolt against Spain led to...
, who was murdered at the Hague when Ambassador from the Commonwealth to the States General. His son John Manley was MP for Bossiney and Camelford. His other son Isaac became postmaster-general of Ireland and sat in the Parliament of Ireland. Manley's brother, Sir Francis Manley of Erbistock, was a judge of North Wales.