John Staniforth

John Staniforth
Born	1771
Died	1830
Occupation(s)	Politician, merchant, Bank of England director
Years active	1802–1819
Known for	Member of Parliament for Hull (1802–1818), director at the Bank of England (1807–1819)

John Staniforth (1771–1830) was a British political figure and served as a director at the Bank of England.

Early life

Born to Charles Staniforth, a merchant active in both London and Kingston-Upon-Hull, and Ann Green, John came from a family with strong maritime connections. His uncles—John Staniforth (1725–1798), Philip Green, and Joseph Green—were influential shipowners based in Hull, with Joseph operating out of Königsberg. After his father passed away in 1797, John joined forces with John Blunt to maintain the family’s London commercial interests.

Parliamentary career

With encouragement from his uncle Philip Green, who wielded considerable influence through his shipping ventures in Hull, John secured election as Hull’s parliamentary representative in 1802, a position he retained until 1818.

Upon Philip Green’s death in 1803, Staniforth broadened his business activities in Hull by establishing his own shipping firm. He was instrumental in bringing the East India Company to utilize Hull’s port facilities and obtained naval contracts with the local shipyard in 1804. Between 1807 and 1819, he held a directorship at the Bank of England.

Although listed among advocates for ending the Slave Trade, Staniforth did not support Richard Bland’s motion in 1807. By 1810, he was recognized as a Government supporter rather than aligned with the Whig party.

In 1818, facing allegations related to profiting from the East India Company’s monopoly and encountering financial challenges, Staniforth declared his intention to retire from Parliament. Despite being nominated by associates that year, he was narrowly defeated in the election.

He married Maria Pitts of Bridlington Quay in 1793 and fathered five children, four of whom survived him when he died in 1830.