Northcote, Sir John, 1st Baronet

▪ English politician

born 1599, —buried June 24, 1676

      English politician during the English Civil Wars and Commonwealth.

      The son of a Devonshire squire, he spent a short time at Exeter College, Oxford, and then (1618) became a law student at the Middle Temple, London. In 1640 he was in the Royal Army, probably as an aide or secretary to the earl of Northumberland, and in 1641 he was created a baronet. He became a member of the Long Parliament and, switching sides, aided the parliamentary cause through his wealthy contributions and service. While commanding a regiment, he was captured by royal forces in the debacle at Exeter and spent a year as a royal prisoner before winning freedom in an exchange. He then returned to Parliament (1645–48, 1654–60) and was a member of the Convention Parliament (April–December 1660) that effected the restoration of Charles II. Failing reelection in 1661, he was finally returned to Parliament in 1667, serving there until his death.

      In 1887 there was published, from surviving manuscripts, the Note Book, of Sir John Northcote, sometime M.P. for Ashburton, and afterwards for the County of Devon, containing Memoranda of Proceedings in the House of Commons during the first Session of the Long Parliament, 1640. The work also contained some memoranda of the session of 1661.

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