Sir John Northcote, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Northcote, 1st Baronet (1599 – 24 June 1676), of Hayne in Devon
, was an English Member of Parliament
.
Educated at Exeter College, Oxford
and a member of the Inner Temple
, Northcote was High Sheriff of Devon
in 1627. In late 1640 or early 1641, he entered Parliament for the newly re-established borough of Ashburton
. On 16 July 1641, he was created a baronet.
Having Presbyterian sympathies, on the outbreak of the Civil War
, he declared for Parliament, and used his considerable wealth and influence to aid the cause. In 1642 he provided £450 to finance military action in Ireland
, and in June promised more money and troops for the war in England. His actions were sufficientlt notable for him to be excluded by name from the general pardon issued by the King
in November 1642. The following year, Sir John was leading a regiment of 1,200 men in Devon, and was taken prisoner by Royal forces after the surrender of Exeter
in September.
He was kept captive until the autumn of the following year, when he was exchanged, and resumed his Parliamentary seat in May 1645. He subscribed to the Covenant
, and was excluded from Parliament in Pride's Purge
in December 1648, but returned to the House of Commons once more as Member for Devon
in all three Parliaments of the Protectorate. In the last of these, during Richard Cromwell
's rule, he was a frequent speaker, and after the restoration of the Rump Parliament
he took a leading role in organising a petition from Devon to the Speaker that the vacant seats should be filled. In the Convention Parliament of 1660 he was elected both for Devon and for Helston
, though his return for the latter was ruled void. He subsequently also sat for Barnstaple
from 1667 until his death.
Sir John married Grace Halswell (died 1675), and they had five sons and three daughters. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, Arthur (1628-1688).
A manuscript purporting to be the Notebook of Sir John Northcote, containing Memoranda of Proceedings during the first session of the Long Parliament, 1640 was published in 1887. However, its authenticity was challenged on the grounds that it covered a period before Sir John had a seat in the House.
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, was an English 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,...
.
Educated at Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
and a member of the 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...
, Northcote was High Sheriff of Devon
High Sheriff of Devon
The High Sheriff of Devon is the Queen's representative for the County of Devon, a territory known as his bailiwick. Selected from three nominated people, he holds his office over the duration of a year. He has judicial, ceremonial and administrative functions and executes High Court...
in 1627. In late 1640 or early 1641, he entered Parliament for the newly re-established borough of Ashburton
Ashburton (UK Parliament constituency)
Ashburton was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament at Westminster, for one Parliament in 1298 and regularly from 1640 until it was abolished for the 1868 general election. It was one of three Devon borough constituencies newly enfranchised in the Long...
. On 16 July 1641, he was created a baronet.
Having Presbyterian sympathies, on the outbreak of the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, he declared for Parliament, and used his considerable wealth and influence to aid the cause. In 1642 he provided £450 to finance military action in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and in June promised more money and troops for the war in England. His actions were sufficientlt notable for him to be excluded by name from the general pardon issued by the King
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in November 1642. The following year, Sir John was leading a regiment of 1,200 men in Devon, and was taken prisoner by Royal forces after the surrender of Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in September.
He was kept captive until the autumn of the following year, when he was exchanged, and resumed his Parliamentary seat in May 1645. He subscribed to the Covenant
Solemn League and Covenant
The Solemn League and Covenant was an agreement between the Scottish Covenanters and the leaders of the English Parliamentarians. It was agreed to in 1643, during the First English Civil War....
, and was excluded from Parliament in Pride's Purge
Pride's Purge
Pride’s Purge is an event in December 1648, during the Second English Civil War, when troops under the command of Colonel Thomas Pride forcibly removed from the Long Parliament all those who were not supporters of the Grandees in the New Model Army and the Independents...
in December 1648, but returned to the House of Commons once more as Member for Devon
Devon (UK Parliament constituency)
Devon was a parliamentary constituency covering the county of Devon in England. It was represented by two Knights of the Shire, in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and finally the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from...
in all three Parliaments of the Protectorate. In the last of these, during Richard Cromwell
Richard Cromwell
At the same time, the officers of the New Model Army became increasingly wary about the government's commitment to the military cause. The fact that Richard Cromwell lacked military credentials grated with men who had fought on the battlefields of the English Civil War to secure their nation's...
's rule, he was a frequent speaker, and after the restoration of the Rump Parliament
Rump Parliament
The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason....
he took a leading role in organising a petition from Devon to the Speaker that the vacant seats should be filled. In the Convention Parliament of 1660 he was elected both for Devon and for Helston
Helston (UK Parliament constituency)
Helston, sometimes known as Helleston, was a parliamentary borough centred on the small town of Helston in Cornwall.Using the bloc vote system of election, it returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and...
, though his return for the latter was ruled void. He subsequently also sat for Barnstaple
Barnstaple (UK Parliament constituency)
Barnstaple was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Barnstaple in Devon, in the South West of England. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1885, when its representation was reduced to one member.The constituency...
from 1667 until his death.
Sir John married Grace Halswell (died 1675), and they had five sons and three daughters. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, Arthur (1628-1688).
A manuscript purporting to be the Notebook of Sir John Northcote, containing Memoranda of Proceedings during the first session of the Long Parliament, 1640 was published in 1887. However, its authenticity was challenged on the grounds that it covered a period before Sir John had a seat in the House.