Sir John Banks, 1st Baronet
Sir John Banks, 1st Baronet FRS (1627 – 18 October 1699) was an English merchant and MP, who rose from relatively humble beginnings to be one of the wealthiest merchants in London and owner of several properties.
Life
Banks was born the son of Caleb Bankes (died 1669) of Maidstone, Kent, gent, and Martha Dann. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.[1]
About 1657, Banks married Elizabeth Dethick, daughter of Sir John Dethick. They had several children, including Caleb, Mary and Elizabeth.[2] His son Caleb was MP for various constituencies, but predeceased him without issue in 1696.
Banks was created a baronet by King Charles II in 1661. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1668.
He invested in the overseas trade with the East and with Africa and in 1677 was financially involved in an expedition to search for a North-east trade route. He was Governor of the East India Company in 1673–74.[3]
Banks was Member of Parliament (MP) several times; for Maidstone 1654–1659, for Winchelsea 1678, for Rochester 1679–1690, for Queenborough 1690–1695 and again for Maidstone 1695–1698 [4]
In 1672, he advocated for the rights of non-conformist congregations to be allowed to meet. [5]
On Banks death in 1699 the baronetcy became extinct. He was survived by two married daughters (Mary, who had married John Savile and Elizabeth, who had married Heneage Finch) who were co-heiresses to his estate.
Notes
- "Banks, John (BNKS644J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- Lundy, Darryl. "Person Page 2730". thePeerage.com. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- "Sir John Banks (Pepys' Diary)". Pepysdiary.com. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- Lundy, Darryl. "Person Page 2730". thePeerage.com. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- "Charles II: May 18-26, 1672 Pages 1-71 Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1672. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1899". British History Online. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
References
| Parliament of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant unrepresented in the Barebones Parliament Title last held by Thomas Twisden |
Member of Parliament for Maidstone 1654–1660 With: Andrew Broughton 1659 |
Succeeded by Thomas Twisden Robert Barnham |
| Preceded by Robert Austen Francis Finch |
Member of Parliament for Winchelsea February 1678 – March 1678 With: Robert Austen |
Succeeded by Robert Austen Cresheld Draper |
| Preceded by Francis Clerke Sir Richard Head,Bt |
Member of Parliament for Rochester 1679–1690 With: Sir Richard Head, Bt (1679) Francis Barrell (1679) Francis Clerke (1681–89) Sir Roger Twisden, Bt (1689–90) |
Succeeded by Joseph Williamson Francis Clerke |
| Preceded by James Herbert Robert Crawford |
Member of Parliament for Queenborough 1690–1695 With: Robert Crawford |
Succeeded by Caleb Banks Robert Crawford |
| Preceded by Thomas Rider Sir Thomas Taylor, Bt |
Member of Parliament for Maidstone 1695–1698 With: Sir Thomas Taylor, Bt to 1696 Thomas Rider 1696–98 |
Succeeded by Sir Robert Marsham, Bt Thomas Bliss |
| Baronetage of England | ||
| New creation | Baronet (of London) 1661–1699 |
Extinct |