John Swinfen | |
|---|---|
 portrait by Godfrey Kneller | |
| Born | 19 March 1613  |
| Died | 10 May 1694 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Position held | Member of Parliament in the Parliament of England |
John Swinfen (19 March 1613 – 12 April 1694) was an English politician [1] who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1645 and 1691. He supported the Parliamentary cause in a civil capacity in the English Civil War.
Swinfen was probably the son of Richard Swinfen, of Swinfen, Staffordshire. He was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge and graduated BA in 1632. [2] In 1645, Swinfen was elected Member of Parliament for Stafford in the Long Parliament. [3] He was excluded in Pride's Purge in 1648. He was one of the Parliamentary Commissioners for Staffordshire.
In 1659, Swinfen was elected MP for Tamworth in the Third Protectorate Parliament. [3] He was elected MP for Stafford in 1660 in the Convention Parliament. [3] In 1661 he was elected MP for Tamworth for the Cavalier Parliament and sat until 1679. He was re-elected MP for Tamworth in 1681 and sat until 1685. [3] In 1690, he was elected MP for Bere Alston and sat until 1691. [3]
Swinfen lived at Swinfen Hall near Freeford. He was commonly called " Russet-coat," from his affected plainness of dress. [4] He died at the age of 81 and was buried at Weeford, Staffordshire. [2]
Swinfen married Ann Brandreth, daughter of John Brandreth and Jane Weston. [2]