Henry Bull (1630 – 28 January 1692) was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

at various times between 1660 and 1692. Bull was the eldest surviving son of William Bull, barrister of

Shapwick, Somerset Shapwick is a village on the Polden Hills overlooking the Somerset Moors, in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England. It is situated to the west of Glastonbury. History Shapwick is the site of one end of the Sweet Track, an ancient cause ...

and his wife Jane Southworth, daughter of Henry Southworth, merchant of London and Wells. He was baptised on 8 October 1630. He was admitted at

Inner Temple The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as the Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court and is a professional associations for barristers and judges. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wal ...

in 1651 and called to the bar in 1658. In April 1660, Bull was elected

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

for

Wells Wells most commonly refers to: * Wells, Somerset, a cathedral city in Somerset, England * Well, an excavation or structure created in the ground * Wells (name) Wells may also refer to: Places Canada *Wells, British Columbia England * Wells ...

in the Convention Parliament. He succeeded his father in 1676 and was appointed

High Sheriff of Somerset The office of High Sheriff of Somerset is an ancient shrievalty which has been in existence since the 11th century. Originally known as the "Sheriff of Somerset", the role was retitled on 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government A ...

for 1683–84. He was elected MP for

Milborne Port Milborne Port is a village, electoral ward and civil parish in Somerset, England, east of Sherborne, and in the South Somerset district. It has a population of 2,802. The parish includes the hamlets of Milborne Wick and Kingsbury Regis. The vill ...

for the

Second Exclusion Parliament The Exclusion Bill Parliament was a Parliament of England during the reign of Charles II of England, named after the long saga of the Exclusion Bill. Summoned on 24 July 1679, but prorogued by the king so that it did not assemble until 21 Octob ...

in 1679 and again in 1681 and 1685. In 1689 he was elected MP for

Bridgwater Bridgwater is a large historic market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. Its population currently stands at around 41,276 as of 2022. Bridgwater is at the edge of the Somerset Levels, in level and well-wooded country. The town lies alon ...

and was re-elected for the seat in 1690. History of Parliament Online - Bull, Henry
/ref> Bull died suddenly at the age of about 61 and was buried at Shapwick. Bull married Elizabeth Hunt, daughter of Robert Hunt of Compton Pauncefoot, Somerset on 14 April 1658 and had three sons and two daughters.

References

1630 births 1692 deaths High Sheriffs of Somerset English MPs 1660 English MPs 1680–1681 English MPs 1681 English MPs 1685–1687 English MPs 1689–1690 English MPs 1690–1695 {{17thC-England-MP-stub