William Lytton
Sir William Lytton (29 September 1586 – 14 August 1660) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1648.[1] He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War.
Biography
Lytton was the son of Sir Rowland Lytton of Knebworth, and his wife Anne St John, daughter of Oliver St John, 1st Baron St John of Bletso and widow of Robert Corbet.[2] He was educated at Westminster school (1601-2) and Emmanuel College, Cambridge and succeeded his father in 1615, inheriting the Knebworth estate. He was knighted on 25 July 1624.
He was appointed High Sheriff of Hertfordshire for 1625-26 and Deputy Lieutenant of the county from 1625 to 1630.
In 1628, Lytton was elected Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire. In April 1640, he was re-elected MP for Herefordshire in the Short Parliament and then in November 1640 for the Long Parliament.[3] Lytton supported the Parliamentary cause in the Civil War and was one of the commissioners sent by Parliament and received by King Charles who tried to negotiate peace at Oxford in 1643,[2] (They failed to reach terms and the war was to continue for three more years). Lytton was excluded from parliament under Pride's Purge in 1648.
On his death he was buried at Knebworth and succeeded by his son Rowland.
Family
Lytton married firstly Anne Slaney, daughter (only child) of Stephen Slaney of Norton, Shropshire, son of Sir Stephen Slaney. He married secondly Ruth Barrington, daughter of Francis Barrington of Barrington Hall, Essex.[2] His son Rowland was later MP for Hertfordshire.
References
- His name is also spelt William Litton
- John Burke A genealogical and heraldic history of the commoners of Great Britain
- Browne WIllis Notitia parliamentaria, or, An history of the counties, cities, and boroughs in England and Wales: ... The whole extracted from mss. and printed evidences 1750 pp. 229–239
- "LYTTON, William (1586-1660), of Knebworth, Herts". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
| Parliament of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir John Boteler Sir Thomas Dacres |
Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire 1628–1629 With: Sir Thomas Dacres |
Succeeded by Parliament suspended until 1640 |
| Preceded by Parliament suspended since 1629 |
Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire 1640–1648 With: Arthur Capel 1640–1641 Sir Thomas Dacres 1641–1648 |
Succeeded by Not represented in the Rump Parliament |