John Hale

Who was John Hale?

John Hale was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1654 and 1660. He fought in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War.

Hale was the eldest son of John Hale, grocer of Soper Lane, London and Harmer Green, Welwyn, Hertfordshire and his wife Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Humphrey Browne of Essex. He was baptised on 19 March 1614 and was six when he succeeded to the family estates on the death of his father in 1620. In 1643 and 1643 he was colonel of foot in the Parliamentary army.

In 1654, Hale was elected Member of Parliament for Devon in the First Protectorate Parliament.Receiver of tithe, Devon and Cornw. 1655; j.p. Devon 1656-65, He was re-elected MP for Devon in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament. He was commissioner for assessment in 1657. In 1659 he was elected MP for Dartmouth in the Third Protectorate Parliament. He was commissioner for militia in 1659.

Hale was commissioner for assessment from January 1660 to 1680, commissioner for militia in March 1660 and major in the militia horse in April 1660. In April 1660 he was re-elected MP for Dartmouth in the Convention Parliament.