John Clevland (admiralty secretary)

John Clevland, (c.1707 – 19 June 1763), of Tapeley in the parish of Westleigh, North Devon, was Secretary to the Admiralty 1751–1763 (First Secretary from 1759) and was twice MP for Saltash, Devon (1741–1747 and 1754–1761) and for Sandwich in Kent (1747–1754).

John Clevland was the eldest son and heir of Commander William Clevland (1664–1734), Royal Navy, of Tapeley, born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, who obtained the office of Controller of the Storekeepers' Accounts for the Navy Board (1718–1732). His mother was Ann Davie, a daughter of the prominent merchant John Davie (d.1710) of Orleigh Court near Bideford. His brother, William Clevland, who after having been shipwrecked, became King of the Banana Islands, Sierra Leone.

His father used his position to advance his son, first as a Clerk (Storekeepers' Accounts) and then Chief Clerk (1726–1731) at the Navy Board. In 1731 John was appointed Clerk to the Cheque and Master Muster at Plymouth. He then became Clerk of the Acts in 1744 and Joint Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of Admiralty in 1748. In 1751 he succeeded Thomas Corbett as Secretary to the Admiralty.

Clevland was MP first for Saltash (1741–1747), then Sandwich (1747–1754) and then Saltash again (1754–1761).

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