John Rudge (banker)
John Rudge (15 August 1669 – 22 March 1740) was a London merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons almost continuously between 1698 and 1734. He was a Governor of the Bank of England from 1713 to 1715.
Early life and family
Rudge was the eldest surviving son of Edward Rudge, merchant of London, and his wife Susanna Dethick, daughter of Sir John Dethick of London. His father had purchased the manor of Evesham in 1664, and represented the borough in Parliament. Rudge was chosen Mayor of Evesham for 1691. On his father's death in 1696, he succeeded to the estate of Evesham Abbey. He married Susanna Letten, the daughter and heiress of John Letten of London on 10 January 1699.[1]
Business career
Rudge became a leading figure in the City of London. In 1696 he was appointed an assistant in the Royal African Company and to the committee of the East India Company. He was a director of the New East India Company from 1704 to 1708 and a director of the Bank of England from 1699 to 1711.[1] He was elected Deputy Governor of the Bank of England for 1711 to 1713 and made Governor for 1713 to 1715.[2] He subsequently resumed his directorship from 1715 to his death. He was also Deputy-Governor of the South Sea Company from 1721 to 1730.
Political career
Rudge was elected Member of Parliament for Evesham at a by-election 11 March 1698, and returned again at the first general election on 1701. However at the second general election of that year he lost the seat through lack of family support. He regained the seat at Evesham in 1702 and was returned at contests at the general elections of 1705, 1708, 1710, 1713[1], 1715, 1722 and 1727. He was defeated in a contest at the 1734 general election. He was classed as a Whig and supported the administration after 1715.[3]
Death and legacy
Rudge died on 22 March 1740 He had a son Edward, and two daughters. He was buried in Wheatfield, Oxfordshire where his son lwas living.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "RUDGE, John (1669-1740), of Mark Lane, London and Evesham Abbey, Worcs". History of Parliament online (1690-1715). Retrieved 21 May 2017.
- ^ Governors of the Bank of England. Bank of England, London, 2013. Archived here. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ "RUDGE, John (1669-1740), of Mark Lane, London and Evesham Abbey, Worcs". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 13 October 2018.
External links
Media related to Governors of the Bank of England at Wikimedia Commons
- 1669 births
- 1740 deaths
- British bankers
- British merchants
- Deputy Governors of the Bank of England
- Governors of the Bank of England
- 17th-century English MPs
- English MPs 1698–1700
- English MPs 1701
- English MPs 1702–1705
- English MPs 1705–1707
- Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies
- British MPs 1707–08
- British MPs 1708–10
- British MPs 1710–13
- British MPs 1713–15
- British MPs 1722–27
- British MPs 1727–34
- English business biography stubs