William Banks

Who is William Banks?

William Banks was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons twice between 1660 and 1676.

Banks was the son of William Banks of Winstanley Hall, the only son by his second wife Sarah Jones, daughter of Walter Jones of Chastleton, Oxfordshire. In 1660, he was elected Member of Parliament for Newton. He was Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire from around August 1660 to 1662, and from 1663 to his death. He was commissioner for assessment from August 1660 to 1674 and commissioner for corporations from 1662 to 1663. From 1665 to 1674 he was joint farmer of excise and he succeeded to the Winstanley estate on the death of his father in 1666. He was a J.P. from 1665 to 1666 and from 1670 until his death. He was a freeman of Liverpool by 1670 and a vice-admiral of Lancashire from 1673 to his death. In May 1675 he was elected MP for Liverpool.

Banks died aged about 40 during the long parliamentary recess and was buried at Chastleton.

Banks married Frances Legh, daughter of Peter Legh of Bruch Hall, Lancashire on 23 October 1656 and had four sons and three daughters.