Captain John Trelawny, MP

Oct. 1679 - 14 May 1680Family and Education b. c.1646, 1st s. of (Sir) Jonathan Trelawny I, 2nd Bt., and bro. of Charles Trelawny and Henry Trelawny. m. Catherine, da. and coh. of James Jenkyn of Trekenning, St. Columb Major, Cornw., s.p.1

Offices Held

Capt. Fitzgerald’s Ft. 1672, 2 R. English Regt. (French army) 1672-4, 2 Tangier Regt. (later 4 Ft.) 1680-d.2

Freeman, East Looe 1672; commr. for assessment, Cornw. 1673-d., recusants 1675, j.p. 1676-d., col. of militia ft. by 1676-?9; freeman, West Looe 1676, mayor 1678-9, recorder 1679-d.3

Gent. of privy chamber 1674-d.4

Biography Trelawny, like five of his brothers, embraced a military career. He served in the French army during the third Dutch war, but resigned his commission to his brother Charles when England made peace, and was given a post at Court. He was returned for West Looe on his father’s interest at a by-election in 1677, and may have been appointed to five committees of minor consequence. He acted as teller for the Court in the Weobley election case in 1678, and for reading the Lindsey level bill, but was noted by (Sir) Joseph Williamson as missing from a debate. Shaftesbury marked him ‘thrice vile’, and he was on both lists of the court party in 1678.5

At the first general election of 1679 Trelawny was returned with his uncle John Trelawny I in a contested election, though as the mayor his own indenture was signed by the portreeve. He was probably appointed to the committee of elections and privileges, marked ‘vile’ by Shaftesbury, and voted against exclusion. He was re-elected in August; but he joined the Earl of Plymouth’s Foot when it was raised for service in Tangier in 1680. He was killed in action on 14 May and buried in Tangier.6

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690 Author: Paula Watson