John Croke

Sir John Croke (1553 – 23 January 1620) was Speaker of the English House of Commons between October–December 1601. He was a lawyer and judge by profession, and was Recorder of London. Croke won the City of London constituency in his election to the 1601 parliament, and was the last Speaker before the death of Elizabeth I, in 1603.

Life

Croke spent the early part of his career as a lawyer. He entered the Inner Temple in 1570, and received a call to the bar shortly after, becoming a "distinguished member". He was rewarded for his service as a lawyer with a silver gilt from the Lord Chancellor, Sir Christopher Hatton (d. 1591). Upon his father's death in 1584, he was deeded the Chilton manor house his grandfather had built, and Studley Priory, which he had purchased. Croke built his own manor house at Studley, though he moved his family to Chilton after his father's death.

Croke sat in the Windsor constituency in 1585, and was first elected for the City of London in 1597. He was made Lent Reader of the Inner Temple in 1596. He became Treasurer in 1598, and was subsequently appointed Recorder. Croke, in an era when intimidation of counsel was frequent, was noted for his 'discretion' in court. In 1602, Croke was involved in a divisive witchcraft case of the era, in which he performed a series of a tests on the 14-year-old accuser, Mary Glover, and the defendant, Elizabeth Jackson; he came to the conclusion that Glover was bewitched after witnessing her reaction to a disguised Jackson, and her unresponsiveness to heat, which left visible burns. The evidence obtained was used in trial, though Sir Edmund Anderson was principal judge; Jackson was convicted to one year's imprisonment, but was released early.

John Croke (disambiguation)

John Croke may refer to:

John Croke (died c. 1600)

John Croke (died c. 1600) was an English politician.

He was a member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Southampton in 1571. He was also made Mayor of Southampton for 1568-69 and 1584-85.

References

John Croke (1508/9–49/51)

John Croke (1508/1509-1549/1551), was an English politician.

He was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Hindon in 1547.

References

John Croke (died 1640)

Sir John Croke (1586 - 10 April 1640) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1629.

Croke was the son of John Croke of Chilton, Buckinghamshire, recorder of the city of London, and his wife Catherine Blount, daughter of Sir Michael Blount. He matriculated at University College, Oxford on 18 July 1600, aged 14. He entered Inner Temple in 1601. He was knighted on 30 March 1609. In 1614, he was elected Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in the Addled Parliament. In 1628 he was elected MP for Christchurch and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.

Croke died at the age of 54.

Croke was the father of John who was created a baronet and who dissipated much of the family fortune. He was the brother of Henry Croke, also an MP.

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