John Sparke (died 1680)

John Sparke (1636 - 8 October 1680) was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1677 to 1680.

Sparke was the son of Jonathan Sparke of Plymouth and his wife Mary Basset, daughter of Sir Robert Basset of Heanton Punchardon. He was baptised on 27 August 1636. He was a student at Inner Temple in 1656. He succeeded his father in 1673 and inherited extensive property in Plymouth, including the former Carmelite priory. In 1677, he was elected Member of Parliament for Plymouth in a by-election to the Cavalier Parliament. He was commissioner for assessment for Plymouth from 1677 to 1679 and for Devon from 1677 until his death. In 1678 he became J.P. for Devon. He was re-elected MP for Plymouth in the two elections of 1679 to the First and Second Exclusion Parliaments but died before the latter met.^[1]

Sparke died at the age of about 44.^[1]

Sparke married by licence dated 29 October 1663, Mary Carew, daughter of Sir Alexander Carew, 2nd Baronet of Antony, Cornwall and had at least two sons.^[1]

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