John Talbot Clifton (politician)

John Talbot Clifton (5 March 1819 – 16 April 1882) was an English landowner and Member of Parliament.

John Talbot Clifton memorial fountain, Lytham

He was born into a prestigious Lancashire family, the son of Thomas Joseph Clifton of Lytham Hall, Lytham, Lancashire and his wife Hatty Treves. He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford and succeeded his father to the Lytham estate in 1851.

He served as a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire and was Colonel of the 1st Royal Lancashire Militia (The Duke of Lancaster's Own). He was elected to Parliament as MP for North Lancashire for 1844–1847, but was a losing candidate in the 1859 election for Preston. He was appointed High Sheriff of Lancashire for 1853.

Clifton died in Algeria in 1882 and was buried at St Cuthberts church, Lytham. He had married Lady Eleanor Cecily Lowther, daughter of Col. Henry Cecil Lowther and was succeeded by their only son, Thomas Henry, who was also MP for North Lancashire.

A grade II listed drinking fountain as a monument to his memory now stands in Lytham's Sparrow Park.[1]