John Harrison (died 1669)

Sir John Harrison (c. 1590 – 28 September 1669) of Balls Park, Hertfordshire was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1640 and 1669. He supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War.

Balls Park

Portrait of Sir John Harrison's daughter Ann, who married Sir Richard Fanshawe, 1st Baronet and Ambassador to Spain.

Public Life

Harrison was born in Lancaster, the 12th son of a yeoman, and went to London in 1611 at the age of 22.[1] He was one of the first to suggest the position of commissioner of the customs and was given that post.[2]

Harrison was elected MP for Scarborough in 1628.[3] In April 1640, he was elected Member of Parliament for Lancaster in the Short Parliament. He was then elected for Lancaster in November 1640 for the Long Parliament[4]

He built Balls Park House in Hertford between 1637 and 1640 and was knighted in 1641.

He supported the King during the Civil War and was disabled from sitting in September 1643. He suffered greatly from his loyalty, being fined £10,745.[2] After the Restoration, Harrison was elected MP for Lancaster again in 1661 for the Cavalier Parliament and held the seat until his death in 1669.[3] He served as a gentleman of the Privy Chamber from 1664 until his death.

Private life

Harrison died at the age of 80, at Balls Park, Hertford and was buried at All Saints' Church, Hertford.[1]

He had married firstly Margaret Fanshawe, daughter of Robert Fanshawe, and secondly Mary Shotbolt. His daughter Ann by his first wife married Sir Richard Fanshawe, 1st Baronet ambassador to Spain. He left 2 sons and 3 daughters. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Richard Harrison (died 1726), also a Member of Parliament.

His descendants included Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend and George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend.[1]

References

Parliament of England
Preceded by Parliament suspended since 1629	Member of Parliament for Lancaster 1640–1643 With: Roger Kirkby 1640 Thomas Fanshawe 1640–1643	Succeeded by Thomas Fell Sir Robert Bindlosse, 1st Baronet
Preceded by Sir Gilbert Gerard, Bt William West	Member of Parliament for Lancaster 1661–1669 With: Richard Kirkby	Succeeded by Richard Kirkby Richard Harrison

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[Fleury-1] Cross Fleury Time-honoured Lancaster ... Historic notes on the ancient borough of Lancaster.

[VCH-2] Townships: Skerton, A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 8 (1914), pp. 58-61. Date accessed: 8 January 2011

[HoP-3] "HARRISON, John (c.1589-1669), of St. Olave's, Hart Street, London; later of Balls Park, Herts. and Beaumont, Lancs". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 14 June 2013.

[4] Willis, Browne (1750). Notitia Parliamentaria, Part II: A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541, to the Restoration 1660 ... London. pp. 229–239.