John Birch (c. 1666–1735) of Garnstone manor, Herefordshire, was an English lawyer and Whig politician who sat in the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

and

British House of Commons The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the upper house, the House of Lords, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. The House of Commons is an elected body consisting of 650 mem ...

between 1701 and 1735.

Early life and family

Birch was the second son. of Rev. Thomas Birch, rector of Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire and his wife Mary. He was admitted at

Gray's Inn The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and Wale ...

in 1682, at

Middle Temple The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known simply as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers, the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn an ...

in 1687 and called to the bar in 1687. His uncle Colonel John Birch, MP died in May 1691, leaving his property of Garnstone to his youngest daughter Sarah provided she married Birch, which she did a short time later. She died in 1702, leaving Birch in possession of the estate of Garnstone, which was a mile from Weobley. He married secondly Letitia Hampden, daughter of

John Hampden John Hampden (24 June 1643) was an English landowner and politician whose opposition to arbitrary taxes imposed by Charles I made him a national figure. An ally of Parliamentarian leader John Pym, and cousin to Oliver Cromwell, he was one of th ...

, MP of Great Hampden, Buckinghamshire on 26 January 1704.

Career

Birch first stood for Parliament at

Weobley Weobley ( ) is an ancient settlement and civil parish in Herefordshire, England. Formerly a market town, the market is long defunct and the settlement is today promoted as one of the county's black and white villages owing to its abundance of ...

at the by-election in 1691 on the death of his uncle who was former MP, but lost out in a double return. He was appointed Attorney-general of Brecknock, Glamorgan and Radnor in 1695. He stood again at the 1698 general election, and again lost out in a double return. However at the first general election of 1701 he was returned successfully as

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 Weobley. He was returned at the second general election of the year but was defeated at the 1702 general election. In 1705 he was appointed

serjeant-at-law A Serjeant-at-Law (SL), commonly known simply as a Serjeant, was a member of an order of barristers at the English and Irish Bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law (''servientes ad legem''), or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writ ...

and at the 1705 general election was returned again as MP for Weobley. He was returned again in

1708 In the Swedish calendar it was a leap year starting on Wednesday, one day ahead of the Julian and ten days behind the Gregorian calendar. Events January–June * January 1 – Charles XII of Sweden invades Russia, by crossing th ...

and in 1710 as a Whig. In 1712 he was promoted to

Queen's Serjeant A Serjeant-at-Law (SL), commonly known simply as a Serjeant, was a member of an order of barristers at the Barristers in England and Wales, English and Irish Bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law (''servientes ad legem''), or Sergeant-Counter, ...

. He was returned unopposed again at the 1713 general election. At the 1715 general election Birch was defeated at Weobley, but was seated on petition on 18 June 1715. In January 1716 he was named as added to a secret committee appointed to prepare the impeachment of Jacobite rebel lords. In June 1716 was appointed Commissioner for forfeited estates. with a tax free salary of £1,000 per annum. He was re-elected as MP for Weobley in 1722 and 1727. In 1728 he was appointed cursitor baron of the Exchequer. In 1731 Birch was exposed as being involved in a financial scandal. While on the Commission for forfeited lands, he had colluded with Denis Bond in the fraudulent sale of lands forfeited by the 3rd Earl of Derwentwater. They also acquired an annuity for the life of the real heir of the estate who was under age and expected to survive a full lifetime. When this heir died aged 18, the whole swindle came to light. A parliamentary inquiry was instituted by Lord Gage and as a result the sales were annulled. Bond and Birch were expelled from the House of Commons on 30 March 1732. At the ensuing by-election Birch stood but was defeated. He was elected at the 1734 general election, but the result was in dispute and this was not resolved until 1737, two years after his death.

Death and legacy

Birch died without issue by either wife on 6 October 1735.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birch, John 1660s births 1735 deaths Members of Gray's Inn Members of the Middle Temple Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1708–1710 British MPs 1710–1713 British MPs 1713–1715 British MPs 1715–1722 British MPs 1722–1727 British MPs 1727–1734 British MPs 1734–1741