John Hungerford (c 1566 – 18 March 1635) was an English 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 1597 and 1611. Hungerford was the son of Anthony Hungerford of Downe Ampney, Wiltshire and his wife Bridget Shelley, daughter of John Shelley. He matriculated at

St John's College, Oxford St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded as a men's college in 1555, it has been coeducational since 1979.Communication from Michael Riordan, college archivist Its founder, Sir Thomas White, intended to pro ...

on 12 April 1583, aged 17.W R Williams ''Parliamentary History of the County of Gloucestershire''
/ref> He was a J.P. for Gloucestershire and Wiltshire from 1588 and was knighted in 1591. For 1592–93 he was

High Sheriff of Wiltshire This is a list of the Sheriffs and (after 1 April 1974) High Sheriffs of Wiltshire. Until the 14th century, the shrievalty was held ''ex officio'' by the castellans of Old Sarum Castle. On 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Gov ...

and for 1597–98

High Sheriff of Gloucestershire This is a list of Sheriffs and High Sheriffs of Gloucestershire, who should not be confused with the Sheriffs of the City of Gloucester. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown (in England and Wales the office previously kn ...

. History of Parliament Online - John Hungerford
/ref> He was awarded MA on 9 July 1594. 'Alumni Oxonienses, 1500-1714: Horrobin-Hyte', Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714: Abannan-Kyte (1891), pp. 748-784. Date accessed: 30 October 2011
/ref> In 1597, Hungerford 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

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. The county town is the city of Gl ...

. He took an interest in Cricklade and in 1601 built the market house in the High Street, and a flying buttress for the Lady Chapel of St Sampson’s Church. He was elected MP for

Cricklade Cricklade is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in north Wiltshire, England, midway between Swindon and Cirencester. It is the first downstream town on the Thames. The parish population at the 2011 census was 4,227. History Cricklade ...

in 1604. He was a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to King James I and was Deputy Lieutenant for Gloucestershire in 1628. Hungerford died in 1635 "honourable in his life, serviceable to his King and country, liberal to his friends, charitable to the poor and courteous to all". Hungerford married firstly Mary Berkeley daughter of

Sir Richard Berkeley Sir Richard Berkeley (15311604) of Stoke Gifford, Gloucestershire was MP for Gloucestershire in 1604. He had previously served as Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1564, and as Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire. He was knighted by Queen Elizabe ...

and secondly Anna Goddard daughter of Edward Goddard. He was the brother of

Anthony Hungerford of Black Bourton Sir Anthony Hungerford (1567–1627) of Black Bourton in Oxfordshire, Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire until 1624, was a member of parliament and a religious controversialist. Origins Hungerford was born in 1567 at Great Bedwyn in Wiltshire, the ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hungerford, John 1560s births 1635 deaths People from Gloucestershire Alumni of St John's College, Oxford High Sheriffs of Wiltshire High Sheriffs of Gloucestershire Year of birth uncertain English MPs 1597–1598 English MPs 1604–1611 Members of Parliament for Cricklade