John Marlay (MP)

Sir John Marley or Marlay (1590–1673) was an English merchant, military commander and politician of the seventeenth century. He is best remembered for his heroic defence of Newcastle-upon-Tyne during the English Civil War, when he held the town for seven months against a besieging army on behalf of the Royalist cause; but through poverty and desperation he later betrayed the cause he had served so loyally, and to the end of his life was reviled by most of those who knew him as a traitor. His name is commemorated by Marlay House and Marlay Park near Dublin city, which belonged to a branch of his descendants who settled in Ireland.

He was the son of William Marley: his father was a Hostman and a Merchant Adventurer in Newcastle upon Tyne. He became an alehouse keeper and then a colliery owner, Hostman & Merchant Adventurer: the latter occupation brought him great wealth, with an estimated income of £4500 a year, and he ran a victualling business as well. He was prominent in local Government from the late 1630s: he was three times Mayor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, his native town, and represented it in the House of Commons from 1661 until his death. He was knighted in 1639. He obtained the victualling contract for the English Army during the First Bishops' War.

During the English Civil War he was appointed by King Charles I as military Governor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as well as being its Mayor 1642–44, and he defended the town with great spirit during the lengthy siege of 1644. He held off the Scots army for seven months, and on 17 October he refused to surrender the town even after the besieging army had mined the walls. When the town was stormed on 19 October, he and the garrison fought their way from street to street, then retreated into the Castle. He held out there for another three days, and then surrendered on the promise of mercy for himself and his men. However Hodgson has the siege lasting from the 13 August to 20 October. Charleton concurs as to the start and has the town in possession by the Scots on 19 October with Sir John and his officers retreating to the Castle keep for four days. With him were Scots lords the Earl of Crawford, Lords Maxwell and Reed together with fellow Royalists Sir Nicholas Cole, Sir George Baker and Dr. Wishart.

...
Wikipedia