John Calvert (1726–1804)
John Calvert | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | February 22, 1804 (aged 77) |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, brewer |
| Known for | Member of Parliament for nearly five decades |
John Calvert (1726–1804) was an English politician and brewer who held a seat in the House of Commons for nearly five decades, from 1754 until 1802.
Born on 6 May 1726, Calvert was the offspring of Felix Calvert of Albury Hall. The Calvert family were well-established brewers in London, proprietors of the Peacock Brewhouse located on Whitecross Street and the Hour Glass brewhouse situated on Thames Street.
Calvert began his parliamentary career as the Member of Parliament for Wendover, winning a by-election on 25 February 1754 with the endorsement of Lord Verney. He secured re-election during the general election later that year. Following his father’s passing in 1755, he inherited a stake in the family enterprise, the Peacock Brewery, which he effectively managed for an extended period.
In 1761, Calvert was elected unopposed as MP for Hertford, a seat he held through the 1774 election. After losing Hertford in 1780, he gained election as MP for Tamworth that same year with support from Lord Weymouth. He returned to represent Hertford in 1784, maintaining his position through the 1790 election and achieving the highest vote count in 1796. Calvert stepped down from Parliament at the general election of 1802.
On 8 September 1757, he married Elizabeth Hulse, daughter of Sir Edward Hulse, 1st Baronet; they had two sons. Upon his death on 22 February 1804, his son John Calvert (who died in 1844) succeeded him.