John Trevor (speaker)

Sir John Trevor
Engraving of Sir John Trevor
Speaker of the House of Commons
In office 1689–1695
Monarch	William III and Mary II
Preceded by	Henry Powle
Succeeded by	Paul Foley
In office 1685–1687
Monarch	James II
Preceded by	Sir William Williams
Succeeded by	Henry Powle
Personal details
Born	c. 1637
Died	20 May 1717
Nationality	British
Residence	Brynkinalt, Denbighshire, Wales
Alma mater	Ruthin School
Occupation	Politician and lawyer

Sir John Trevor (c. 1637 – 20 May 1717) was a Welsh lawyer and politician. He was Speaker of the English House of Commons from 1685 to 1687 (the Loyal Parliament) and from 1689 to 1695. Trevor also served as Master of the Rolls from 1685 to 1689 and from 1693 to 1717. His second term as Speaker came to an end when he was expelled from the House of Commons for accepting a substantial bribe. He remained the most recent Speaker to be forced out of office until Michael Martin resigned in 2009.

John Trevor was born around 1637 or 1638, the exact date of his birth being unrecorded. His father, also called John Trevor, was the son of Sir Edward Trevor; his mother was Margaret Jeffreys. The family lived at Brynkinalt in the parish of Chirk in the Welsh county of Denbighshire.

Trevor was educated at Ruthin School, and he started his career as a clerk for his relative Arthur Trevor. From there he worked his way up with the help of the patronage of George Jeffreys until he was appointed a king's counsel by Charles II.

In 1685 he was appointed to the high offices of Master of the Rolls and Speaker of the House of Commons by James II. Being a tory and a partisan of James II, the accession of William III saw Trevor deprived of his office. In 1690, however, he once again returned to parliament as Speaker. From 1693, he also once again held the judicial office of Master of the Rolls. Between 1692 and 1695, he represented Newry in the Irish House of Commons.