John Fowke

John Fowke (c. 1596 – 22 April 1662) was an English merchant and politician. He served as a Sheriff of London for 1644 and Lord Mayor of London for 1652.

He was the Member of Parliament for City of London in 1661–1662.

He was the third son of William Fowke of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, by his wife, Alice Carr of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. Coming to London, he rose to be one of its leading merchants. He was a member of the Haberdashers' Company, and an alderman.

In 1627 Fowke, after the vote and declaration of the House of Commons against paying tonnage and poundage, persistently refused to pay. He had goods seized to the value of £5,827. In August 1627 and January 1628, for attempting to obtain legal redress, he was imprisoned and lost more merchandise. In the following February he was prosecuted by the Star Chamber for 'pretended riot and seditious words' used by him to the officers sent to execute the replevin. About the same time Charles I expressed displeasure against Fowke, and shortly afterwards named him in a declaration printed and published in March 1628.

In October 1629, on Fowke again refusing to pay the impost, an information was laid against him at the council, and 'great endeavours used to take away his life and estate upon false pretences of clipping of money and piracies.' After witnesses had been examined he was committed to the Fleet Prison and his ship and cargo, with a prize of sugar, seized. He was forced to give £40,000.

In June 1641 he petitioned the Commons for relief for his losses. The House, by an order of 30 June 1645, nominated a committee to consider how he might have reparation out of delinquents' estates.

Fowke served the office of sheriff in 1643. King Charles, in his answer to the city petition of 4 January 1643, spoke of Fowke as one of the leaders of the parliamentary party in the city, and a person 'notoriously guilty of schism and high treason'. In the ordinance of 29 March 1643 of parliament for raising money, Fowke was one of the persons empowered to nominate collectors in each ward.

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