John Weaver

Who was John Weaver?

John Weaver was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1645 and 1659. He supported the Parliamentarian side in the Civil War

Weaver was of North Luffenham, Rutland, and was admitted a freeman of Stamford, Lincolnshire on 25 October 1631. From 1643 to 1644 he was judge-advocate to the army of the Earl of Manchester. In 1645, Weaver was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Stamford for the Long Parliament. He became one of the recognised leaders of the Independents and remained in the House of Commons after Pride's Purge, although he refused to sit as one of the judges in the trial of King Charles I. From 1650 to 1653 he was one of the Commissioners for the government of Ireland. The officers of the Irish army petitioned for his removal on 18 February 1653 and on 22 February he was allowed to resign at his own request.

During the Commonwealth period, Weaver was elected MP for Stamford in 1654 for the First Protectorate Parliament, in 1656 for the Second Protectorate Parliament and in 1659 for the Third Protectorate Parliament.