John Browne (MP for Gloucester)
John Browne | |
|---|---|
| Born | circa 1569 Gloucester, England |
| Died | 1639 |
| Occupation(s) | Brewer, politician |
| Years active | 1603–1635 |
| Known for | Member of Parliament for Gloucester (1614–1629), Mayor of Gloucester |
John Browne (circa 1569–1639) was an English brewer and political figure who represented Gloucester in the House of Commons during the years 1614 to 1629.
Life
As the eldest child of John Browne (deceased 1593), an alderman and Mercer from Gloucester, and his wife Hester, Browne inherited a prominent local position. Following his father's passing, his mother remarried Godfrey Goldsborough, the bishop of Gloucester. Browne established himself as a brewer in Gloucester and took on several municipal roles, including sheriff in 1603 and mayor from 1610 to 1611. He was chosen as the Member of Parliament for Gloucester initially in 1614, with subsequent re-elections in 1621, 1624, 1625, 1626, and 1628. Additionally, he held the mayoralty again during 1621–22 and later in 1634–35. Notably, in 1629 he resisted the king’s unauthorized imposition of tonnage and poundage.
Browne resided in Churcham, where he held the title of lord of the manor at the time of his death. In 1634, he secured a lease on the rectory of Churcham from the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester. He passed away in August 1639 and was interred at Churcham.
Family
Browne entered into marriage twice: his first wife was Eleanor (circa 1580–1603), daughter of Robert Robinson from Gloucester—whose brother Anthony Robinson also served as a parliamentary colleague; his second marriage was to Sarah (died 1643), daughter of John Mayo of Charfield and widow of Lawrence Wilshire from Gloucester. He left no descendants; his second wife inherited his estate, while properties originally obtained from his father were bequeathed to two surviving brothers.