John Praed

Who was John Praed?

John Praed was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1708 and 1713.

Praed was the son of James Praed of Trevethoe, Cornwall and his wife Horor Gifford, daughter of Arthur GIfford of Birghtley, Devon. He was apprenticed to Mr Bonnell, a merchant in London and became a factor in Zant by 1678. In 1680 he entered a business deal which was to cripple his finances for the rest of his life. Two London merchants, Daniel Gates and Wlliam Warre, sent him an order to buy up all the currants at Morea and to draw bills of exchange payable in Venice. Praed delivered the cargo, but the bills were stopped. Praed took legal action in 1690 and was awarded £6404 and costs against Warre. Warre made an unsuccessful appeal and refused to pay, whereupon Praed had him committed to the Fleet Prison and applied to sequester his estates. However Warre had managed to secure his release.

In 1693 Praed was approached by Abraham Anselm who wanted to recruit men for the exiled King James II to whom he replied that although he was a man of misfortune, yet he was a true subject of the government established.