Beauchamp St John

Sir Beauchamp St John (1594-1667) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1621 and 1653. He supported the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War.

St John was a son of Oliver St John, 3rd Baron St John of Bletso and his wife Dorothy Reid, daughter of Sir John Rede or Reid, of Odington, Gloucestershire.[1] He was knighted on 24 July 1619 at Bletsoe together with his brother Henry.[2][3]

In 1621 St John was elected Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire. He was elected MP for Bedford in 1626 and again in 1628. He sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.[4] In 1625 he inherited through his wife the manor of Tilbrook.[5][6]

In April 1640, St John was elected MP for Bedford in the Short Parliament. He was re-elected for Bedford for the Long Parliament in November 1640, where he was active at least in 1643 and remained in support of the parliamentary cause.

St John married Rebecca Hawkins on the 13 Oct. 1613, she was the daughter of William Hawkins of Tilbrook.[5] He had a son who died young and a daughter. His elder brother Oliver inherited the Barony and became Earl of Bolingbroke. His brother Alexander sat as MP for Bedford before him.[1]

References

Parliament of England
Preceded by
Sir Oliver Luke
Sir Oliver St John
Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire
1621-1622
With: Sir Oliver Luke
Succeeded by
Sir Oliver Luke
Sir Oliver St John
Preceded by
Sir Alexander St John
Richard Taylor
Member of Parliament for Bedford
1626-1629
With: Richard Taylor
Succeeded by
Parliament suspended until 1640
Preceded by
Parliament suspended since 1629
Member of Parliament for Bedford
1640-1653
With: Sir Samuel Luke
Succeeded by
Not represented in the Barebones parliament