John Codrington (c. 1677–1754), of Codrington, Gloucestershire and Wraxall, Somerset, was an English Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1710 and 1741.

Early life

Codrington was the eldest son of Robert Codrington of Codrington and Didmarton, Gloucestershire and his wife Agnes Samwell, daughter of Richard Samwell of Upton and Gayton, Northamptonshire. He was baptized on 10 January 1677. He matriculated at University College, Oxford in 1695. He married as his first wife Jane Tynte widow of Fortescue Tynte and daughter of Mr Giffard of Cannington, near Bridgwater, Somerset. She died in 1702 and he made a financially advantageous second marriage, by licence dated 24 September 1709, to Elizabeth Gorges, daughter of Samuel Gorges of Wraxall, Somerset. She brought him several estates in Somerset including Wraxall.

Political career

Codrington had stood for Parliament at Bath in 1702 and 1705, but was unsuccessful. He was returned as Member of Parliament (MP) for

Bath Bath may refer to: * Bathing, immersion in a fluid ** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body ** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe * Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities Plac ...

at the general elections of

1710 In the Swedish calendar it was a common year starting on Saturday, one day ahead of the Julian and ten days behind the Gregorian calendar. Events January–March * January 1 – In Prussia, Cölln is merged with Alt-Berlin b ...

. In 1712 he was instrumental in steering through Parliament a bill to make the Avon navigable between Bristol and Bath. He was returned again for Bath in

1713 Events January–March * January 17 – Tuscarora War: Colonel James Moore leads the Carolina militia out of Albemarle County, North Carolina, in a second offensive against the Tuscarora. Heavy snows force the troops to take ref ...

and

1715 Events For dates within Great Britain and the British Empire, as well as in the Russian Empire, the "old style" Julian calendar was used in 1715, and can be converted to the "new style" Gregorian calendar (adopted in the British Empire i ...

. His father died in 1717 and he succeeded to his estates. He was returned for Bath at the

1722 Events January–March * January 27 – Daniel Defoe's novel ''Moll Flanders'' is published anonymously in London. * February 10 – The Battle of Cape Lopez begins off of the coast of West Africa (and present-day Gabon), as ...

, but lost the seat at the 1727 general election. He regained the seat at Bath in

1734 Events January– March * January 8 – Salzburgers, Lutherans who were expelled by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Salzburg, Austria, in October 1731, set sail for the British Colony of Province of Georgia, Georgia in North America ...

but was defeated again in

1741 Events January–March * January 13 – Lanesborough, Massachusetts is created as a township. * February 13 – Sir Robert Walpole, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, popularizes the term "the balance of power" in a spe ...

. He did not stand again.

Death and legacy

Codrington's wife Elizabeth died in 1740 and he died on 17 April 1754. They had four daughters of whom only one left children.

References

1678 births 1754 deaths People from South Gloucestershire District People from North Somerset (district) Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies British MPs 1710–1713 British MPs 1713–1715 British MPs 1715–1722 British MPs 1722–1727 British MPs 1734–1741 {{England-GreatBritain-MP-stub