John Hippisley

Who is John Hippisley?

Sir John Hippisley was an English privateer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1653. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War.

Hippisley was the son of William Hippisley. He was knighted at Sheriff Hutton Park on 14 April 1617. In 1621, he was elected Member of Parliament for Petersfield. He was re-elected MP for Petersfield in 1624. About this time, he purchased from Sir John Leman the manor of Lesnes and the site of Lesnes Abbey which he later sold to Sir Thomas Gainsford, of Crowhurst, Surry. In 1624 he was appointed Lieutenant of Dover Castle, a post he held until 1629. He was elected MP for Dover in 1625 and 1626, During his time at Dover he was involved in the wars with France and Spain and took part in privateering activities. In 1628 he was re-elected MP for Dover and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.

In 1641 Hippisley was elected to the Long Parliament as one of the members elected to the newly enfranchised constituency of Cockermouth. About this time he sold the manor of Marston Bigot to Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork.