Members of Parliament

List of Queens’ Members who have become Members of Parliament.

The first Member of Queens’ known to have served in the House of Commons was Michael Thrayll, on the likely assumption that the man of that name who was elected as the M.P. for the Borough of Bedford in 1542 was one and the same as the Michael Thrayll recorded as a student at Queens’ in 1528. Unfortunately the returns for those elected to most of the Parliaments called by Henry VIII have not survived and those from Henry’s last Parliament of 1545 and Edward VI’s Parliaments (1547 and 1553) are partial and sketchy. There were, however, at least three Queensmen in the first Parliament called by Mary I in October 1553 – Sir Thomas Smith, Dr John Gwynne and Sir Thomas Heneage. None of these gentlemen appear to have been M.Ps. in any of Mary’s subsequent Parliaments (April 1554, November 1554, October 1555, January 1558 – though again the returns are incomplete), but all reappear in the House of Commons early in the reign of Elizabeth I. From the accession of Queen Elizabeth, however, the names of more and more Queensmen figure in the returns to Parliament (there were 7 in Elizabeth’s Parliament of 1572, 12 in James I’s of 1624, 17 in Charles I’s of 1625). The numbers reached their apogee in the Long Parliament of 1640-53 during which 24 members of the College sat in the Commons (and several others, of course, in the Lords). Not all of them were there at the same time – 18 were elected in 1640, but seven of these were “disabled to sit” (presumably for being too Royalist) or died or were promoted to the Lords – six more Queensmen were among the replacements elected or appointed in 1645 to replace those M.Ps. who had left their seats for one reason or another.

In the early seventeenth century Queens’ had become a very fashionable college for the gentry and aristocracy, especially for those with more Puritan leanings. The influence of the famous Dr John Preston, who was so popular as a Tutor that the Walnut Tree Building had to be constructed to accommodate all the pupils he was attracting, can be seen in the large number of Members of both Houses of Parliament a generation or so after he was active at Queens’. Preston, a cleric of a decidedly Puritan hue, was a Fellow of Queens’ from about 1608 until he became Master of Emmanuel in 1622. During that period no less than 30 future Members of Parliament matriculated at the College, eight of them in 1619; three actually transferred with Preston to Emmanuel.

Queensmen figure, though in smaller numbers, in all the Parliaments nominated or elected under Oliver and Richard Cromwell (again the returns are far from complete) as well as those after the Restoration in 1660. There was something of a mini-revival in the eighteenth century with at least five Queensmen in every Parliament from 1702 until 1784 (excepting only the 1741 Parliament when only 4 Queensmen were returned). In fact there was at least one member of the College sitting as an M.P. in the House of Commons in every Parliament from 1555 right through till 1876, when Sir Robert Gore-Booth (1823), M.P. for Sligo, died. There was then a long gap without a Queensman in the House until Cyril Culverwell (1913) was elected M.P. for Bristol West in 1928. There was another gap without a Queens’ M.P. from 1974 till 1983 and the College produced only 8 M.Ps. during the whole of the twentieth century.

Many of the Queens’ M.Ps. served only in a single Parliament or for a short period of time, but some were returned over and over again. Sir Oliver Cromwell (1579) (the fiercely Royalist uncle of the Protector) was elected the Member for Huntingdonshire on eight occasions to every Parliament between 1588 and 1625, excepting only that of 1621. Sir Thomas Fanshawe (1590) almost equalled that record, being elected to seven Parliaments between 1601 and 1628 (he too missed out in 1621). James Fiennes (1618), later Lord Saye and Sele, was first elected to Parliament in 1625. He was subsequently returned for the County of Oxfordshire at every election until the dissolution of the Long Parliament in 1653. According to Venn (sadly the returns are missing so this cannot be confirmed) he sat again for Oxfordshire at the Restoration in the 1660 Parliament. John Plumptre (1697) (of a famous Queens’ family) sat in Parliament from 1706 until he died in 1751, except for the years 1713-1715, but Sir Henry Bridgeman (1744) was an M.P. for 46 years from 1748 until 1794 (for 20 years for Ludlow and then for Wenlock through eight elections), when he was elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Bradford. This record was almost equalled by Charles Callis Western (1784) who was returned for Maldon in Essex in 1790 and was re-elected (from 1812 as the M.P. for the County of Essex) up until the Great Reform Act in 1832, by which time he had won at 11 elections in a row. Before 1832 it was relatively unusual for someone to represent a single constituency throughout their parliamentary career, but John Laroche (1717), a Huguenot refugee originally named Jean Crothaire, represented Bodmin in Cornwall for 25 continuous years (1727-52) and William Northey (1771) was M.P. for Newport, Cornwall 1796-1826. The longest serving M.P. of modern times was Sir Harold Webbe (1904), who was M.P. for Westminster from 1939 to 1959.

The main source of information about Members of Queens’ who have served in the House of Commons is Venn and Venn’s monumental work, Alumni Cantabrigienses, which catalogues every known Cambridge man up till those who matriculated in 1900 (women did not formally matriculate at the University then, of course). In compiling a list of Queens’ M.Ps., I have checked Venn against the formal lists of Members of the House of Commons, ‘Parliaments of England, 1213 – 1702, Parliaments of Great Britain, 1705-96, Parliaments of the United Kingdom, 1801-1874, compiled by order of the House in 1876. The lists were compiled from the writs and returns preserved in the Public Record Office or the Crown Office, but, as mentioned above, the records are far from complete for many of the Parliaments before 1661. Until 1752 the year was reckoned from 25 March, but all dates have been adjusted to the modern practice of reckoning the year from 1 January. I am grateful to Stephen Lees (1966) for the list of twentieth century Queens’ Members of Parliament and also for spotting that John Pelham became an M.P., though this is not mentioned by Venn and Venn..

We are used, of course, to a system in which Parliament sits more or less permanently, apart from vacations. From time to time Parliament is dissolved and a new House of Commons is elected. This has in effect been the situation since the Glorious Revolution. A Convention was elected (using the Parliamentary constituencies) in January 1689. This was declared to be a Parliament in February of that year and since then, with short gaps (usually less than three months) after a dissolution for a new election to take place, the House of Commons has sat continually. It is possible, therefore, to say that a Member of Parliament sat for a number of years in the House of Commons, e.g. Sir Harold Webbe (above) from 1939-59, even though that period spanned the General Elections of 1945, 1950, 1951 and 1955. Before the Glorious Revolution, however, Parliament only sat when summoned by the monarch, who could also dissolve it whenever he or she chose. In practice Parliaments were summoned fairly regularly, but there were several periods during the reigns of the Tudors and Stuarts when the Queen or King did not call a parliament for several years. For instance, there was no Parliament between that called by Elizabeth I in January 1563 and dissolved in January 1567 and the next one summoned for May 1572 – a gap of over five years. Similarly James I did not hold a Parliament for seven years between June 1614 and January 1621 and, most famously of all, Charles I ruled without a Parliament for 11 years from March 1629 until April 1640. An M.P. was only an M.P for the lifetime of a Parliament, which might sit for only a few days or weeks before a long interregnum. Before 1690, therefore, it is necessary to list the Parliaments to which a Member was elected, rather than specify a number of years over which he was a Member. The lengths of Parliaments also varied enormously. Some (including, it would seem, all but one of the Parliaments called by Mary I) were called for a single day. The ‘Short Parliament’ of April – May 1640, reluctantly called by Charles I, lasted only 22 days. Typically Parliaments lasted a few months. Of the 37 Parliaments called between 1542, when the first known Queens’ M.P. was elected, and 1685, only 12 sat for as long as a year, only five for three or more years. Some of these, however, were in session for an extraordinarily long time. The most notorious was the ‘Long Parliament’, summoned for November 1640, which sat until famously dissolved by Oliver Cromwell (“It is not fit that you should sit here any longer! …You shall now give place to better men”) in April 1653. This was not the longest Parliament of the era, however. The ‘Pensionary Parliament’, summoned by Charles II in May 1661, sat for nearly 18 years before its dissolution in January 1679. Other notably long parliaments included that which sat from May 1572 for almost 11 years until April 1583 during the reign of Elizabeth I and James I’s Parliament of March 1604 (the one that was nearly blown up on 5 November 1605) which sat till February 1611. The others that lasted longer than a year were the last two Parliaments of Henry VIII’s reign (January 1542 – March 1544 and November 1545 – January 1547), the first Parliament of Edward VI (November 1547 – April 1552), the second of Queen Elizabeth I (January 1563 – January 1567), the third of James I (January 1621 – February 1622), one of the Parliaments called by Oliver Cromwell (September 1656 – February 1658), the fourth called by Charles II (October 1679 – January 1681) and the only Parliament of James II (May 1685 – July 1687).

In the period with which we are concerned, therefore, Parliaments were called in the following years: by Henry VIII in 1542 and 1545; by Edward VI in 1547 and 1553; by Mary I in 1553 and April 1554 and by Mary I and her King Consort Philip in November 1554, 1555 and 1558; by Elizabeth I in 1559, 1563, 1572, 1584, 1586, 1588, 1593, 1597, and 1601; by James I in 1604, 1614, 1621 and 1624; by Charles I in 1625, 1626, 1628, April 1640, and November 1640 (the Long Parliament). In 1653 an Assembly, nominated by Oliver Cromwell and a Council of Officers, was summoned to meet in July – the assembly soon declared itself a Parliament. It was replaced by a Parliament summoned in 1654 to which members were returned from the counties but relatively few boroughs. Notably this Parliament, as also the next two, included representatives from Scotland and Ireland. Oliver Cromwell called another Parliament in 1656 and his son Richard, who succeeded him briefly as Lord Protector, called one in 1659. Charles II called Parliaments in 1660, 1661 (the Pensionary Parliament), March 1679, October 1679 and 1681 and James II called only a single one in 1685.

During the reigns of William III and Mary II and then Queen Anne, general elections were fairly frequent – new Parliaments were called in 1689, 1690, 1695, 1698, February 1701, December 1701, 1702, 1705, 1708 (the first, apart from the experiment under the Protectorate, to which Scottish M.Ps. were elected to serve in the House of Commons alongside their English and Welsh colleagues following the Act of Union in 1707), 1710 and 1713. For the rest of the eighteenth century elections were much less frequent, typically every six or seven years. There were General Elections, all of course involving Queensmen, in 1715, 1722, 1727, 1734, 1741, 1747, 1754, 1761, 1768, 1774, 1780, 1784, 1790, and 1796. In the turbulent early years of the nineteenth century, elections were more frequent, occurring in 1802 (the first Parliament of the United Kingdom with Irish M.Ps.), 1806, 1807, 1812, 1818, 1820, 1826, 1830 and 1831. The Great Reform Act of 1832 swept away many constituencies which had remained more or less unchanged for centuries  - as is apparent from the list below, many of the Queens’ M.Ps. sat for small places or rotten boroughs which few could find on the map today - and enfranchised some of the big new industrial cities. I do not propose to enumerate all the General Elections since 1833 – sadly few of them involved members of the College anyway.

I have identified (up to 2005) 149 Queensman who have served as Members of Parliament and they are listed below in matriculation order. Two of these were associated with Queens’ after serving as M.Ps. (the Very Revd Sir Richard Wrottesley and Charles Yorke, Earl of Hardwicke). I have not included Sir Christopher Sibthorpe (1580) who was a Member of the Irish Parliament (sitting for Newtown, Limavaddy) 1613-15. Almost half the 149 were knighted or were hereditary baronets (giving added meaning to the phrase “knights of the shires”) and the huge majority until recent times were, of course, members of the aristocracy or the landed gentry.

Thomas Smith (admitted 1526; Fellow 1530-47, Regius Professor of Civil Law, Vice-Chancellor 1543-45). Sir Thomas Smith, P.C., 1514-77, M.P. for Grampound, Cornwall, 1553, for Liverpool, Lancs.1559, for the County of Essex 1572 until his death in 1577. Provost of Eton, Secretary of State (1548-49 and 1573-77), Ambassador to France, etc. Benefactor to Queens’ and Founder of the Smith Feast.

Michael Thrayll (at Q. in 1528). M.P. for Bedford Borough 1542.

Richard Eden or Iden (“Studied at Queens’ under Sir T. Smith”, Adm. Christ’s 1535). c1521-1576, M.P. for Sudbury, Suffolk 1572 until his death in 1576.

Henry Cromwell  (at Q. in 1540). Sir Henry Cromwell (alias Williams), died 1604, M.P. for the County of Huntingdonshire 1563. Grandfather of the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell.

William Cobham (at Q. in 1544). William, Baron Cobham 1558 by succession, P.C., K.G., 1517-1597, M.P. for Hythe (Cinque Ports) 1547 (not confirmed, returns lost), for Rochester, Kent 1555, Member of the House of Lords from 1558. Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Ambassador to the Spanish Netherlands, Lord Chamberlain. He was the father-in-law of Robert Cecil.

Christopher Perne (matriculated 1544). M.P. for Plympton, Devon 1558, (he may have been returned in 1559 but all the records for Devon and Cornwall are lost), for Grampound, Cornwall 1563. He was removed from the House of Commons as a lunatic in 1566.

John Gwynne, LL.D. (matric.1545, Fellow of St John’s 1548). Died 1574, M.P. for the County of Cardiganshire 1553, 1563, for the County of Caernarvonshire 1572.

Robert Bowes (matric.1547). Died 1597, M.P. for Knaresborough, Yorks.1563, for Appleby, Westmorland 1572, for the County of Cumberland 1586 (and possibly 1584 also – the returns are lost). Ambassador to Scotland.

Thomas Duppa (matric.1549). M.P. for Truro, Cornwall 1554.

Thomas Heneage (matric.1549). Sir Thomas Heneage, P.C., died 1595, M.P. for Stamford, Lincs.1553, for Boston, Lincs.1563, for the County of Lincolnshire 1572, for the County of Essex 1584, 1586, 1588, 1593. Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Christopher Yelverton (matric.1550, Counsel for the University). Sir Christopher Yelverton, K.B., died 1612, M.P. for Brackley, Northants.1563, for Northampton Borough 1572, for the County of Northamptonshire 1593 and probably 1597. Speaker of the House of Commons 1597, Queen’s Sergeant, Justice of the Queen’s Bench.

Stephen Thimbleby (matric.1554). Died 1587, M.P. for Boston, Lincs.1572, for Lincoln City 1584 (according to Venn, not confirmed, no returns for Lincoln survive).

Thomas Pelham (matric.1561). Sir Thomas Pelham, Baronet by creation, c1540-1624, M.P. for Lewes, Sussex 1584 (according to Venn, not confirmed, returns not found), for the County of Sussex 1586.

Anthony Felton (matric.1570). Died c1612, M.P. for Morpeth, Northumberland 1586.

James Ley (matric.1571, migrated to Brasenose, Oxford). Sir James Ley, P.C., Baronet by creation, Lord Ley 1624 and Earl of Marlborough 1626 by creation, c1552-1629, M.P. for Westbury, Wilts.1597, 1604, for Bath, Somerset 1614, for Westbury 1621. Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench in Ireland, Lord Chief Justice, King’s Bench, Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord Treasurer, President of the Council.

Thomas Fairfax (matric.1577). Colonel Sir Thomas Fairfax, Baron Fairfax of Cameron in the Scotttish peerage 1627 by creation, 1560-1640, M.P. for Lincoln City 1586, for Aldborough, Yorks.1588, for the County of Yorkshire 1601, 1625. Commanded a regiment of Foot in the Low Countries under the Earl of Leicester, Member of the Council of the North.

Richard Trevor, LL.D. (matric. 1577). Sir Richard Trevor, M.P. for Bletchingly, Surrey 1597.

Oliver Cromwell (matric.1579). Sir Oliver Cromwell, K.B., 1562-1655, M.P. for the County of Huntingdonshire 1588, 1593, 1597, 1601, 1604, 1614, 1624, 1625. Uncle of the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell.

Robert Cromwell (matric.1579). Died 1617, M.P. for Huntingdon Borough 1592. Father of the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell.

Miles Sandys (matric. Peterhouse 1578, Fellow Peterhouse 1581, Fellow of Queens’ 1585-88). Sir Miles Sandys, Knight, Baronet by creation, 1563-1645, M.P. for Cambridge University 1614, for Huntingdon Borough 1621, for the County of Cambridgeshire 1628. Son of the Most Revd Edwin Sandys, Archbishop of York.

Edward Glascock (matric.1587). M.P. for Sudbury, Suffolk 1601.

Thomas Mildmay (matric.1589, migrated to Corpus Christi 1590). Sir Thomas Mildmay, Knight, Baronet by creation, died 1626, M.P. for Maldon, Essex 1592.

Thomas Fanshawe (matric.1590). Sir Thomas Fanshawe, K.B., died 1631, M.P. for Bedford Borough 1601, for Lancaster Borough (not Launceston as in Venn) 1604, 1614, 1624, 1625, 1626, 1628. Surveyor General of Crown Lands. His father and brother were both Members of Parliament and both Queen’s Remembrancer of the Exchequer.

John Heveningham (adm.1592). Sir John Heveningham, 1577-1633, M.P. for the County of Norfolk 1628. His son William was a member of the High Court that condemned Charles I to death, but he did not sign the death warrant; he surrendered at the Restoration and was deprived of his estates and imprisoned, but his life was saved.

John Key or Kaye (matric.1595). Sir John Kaye, 1578-1641, M.P. for Eye, Suffolk 1610, replacing an M.P. elected in 1604 who had died. His son, also Sir John, was a leading Royalist colonel in the Civil War.

Francis Fane (matric.c1595). Sir Francis Fane, K.B., Baron Burghersh and Earl of Westmorland 1624 by creation, 4^th Baron Le Despenser 1626 by succession, 1579-1629, M.P. for the County of Kent 1601, for Maidstone, Kent 1604, 1614, 1621, for Peterborough, Northants.1624.

George Fane (matric.c1595). Sir George Fane, c1581-1640, M.P. for Dover, Cinque Ports 1601, for Sandwich, Cinque Ports, 1604, for Dover 1614, for the County of Kent 1621, for Maidstone, Kent 1624, 1626, 1628, 1640 (Short Parliament - SP).

George Dalston (matric.1596). Sir George Dalston, died 1657, M.P. for the County of Cumberland 1621, 1624, 1625, 1626, 1628, 1640SP, 1640 (Long Parliament – LP) until ‘disabled to sit’ in 1643. Royalist commander, notably at the siege of Carlisle when he was forced to retire before General Lesley.

Hamon Lestrange (adm.1601). Sir Hamon Lestrange, 1583-1654, M.P. for the County of Norfolk 1614, 1621, for Castle Rising, Norfolk 1625. Royalist Governor of King’s Lynn.

Alexander St John (adm.1601). Sir Alexander St John, died 1657, M.P. for Bedford Borough 1614, 1621, 1624, 1625, for Barnstable, Devon 1626, 1628.

Anthony St John (adm.1601). Sir Anthony St John, M.P. for Wigan, Lancs.1624, for the County of Cheshire 1625, for Wigan 1626, 1628.

Edward Villiers (matric.1601). Sir Edward Villiers, died 1626, M.P. for Westminster 1621, 1624, 1625. Master of the Mint, Comptroller of the Court of Wards, Envoy to the Elector Palatine, President of Munster. Ancestor of the Earls of Jersey. His eldest son William, Viscount Grandison, mortally wounded at the siege of Bristol, was the father of Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland, mistress of Charles II; Sir Edward was also the half-brother of George Villiers, K.G., P.C., Duke of Buckingham, Chancellor of Cambridge University, the favourite of James I and Charles I.

Rowland St John (matric.1604). Sir Rowland St John, K.B., died 1645, M.P. for Higham Ferrers, Northants.1614, for Tiverton, Devon 1625 (Burke’s Peerage says he sat for Bedfordshire, but this is not correct).

Henry Coke or Cooke (adm.1607). Died 1661, M.P. for Chipping Wycombe, Bucks.1624, 1625, 1626, for Dunwich, Suffolk 1640SP, 1640LP. He was the son of Sir Edward Coke, Lord Chief Justice.

Thomas Standish (adm.1608). Died 1642, M.P. for Liverpool, Lancs.1626, for Preston-in-Amounderness, Lancs.1640SP, 1640LP until he died.

Henry Bellingham (adm.1609). Sir Henry Bellingham, Baronet by creation, died 1650, M.P. for the County of Westmorland 1625, 1626, 1640SP, 1640LP till disabled to sit in 1645.

Beauchamp St John (adm.1610). Sir Beauchamp St John, died 1667, M.P. for the County of Bedfordshire 1621, for Bedford Borough 1626, 1628, 1640SP, 1640LP.

John Trevor (adm.1612). Sir John Trevor, died 1673, M.P. for the County of Denbigh 1621, for the County of Flint from December 1624 (replacing a deceased M.P.), 1625, for Great Bedwin, Wilts.1628, for Grampound, Cornwall 1640LP. Member of the Council of State from 1651, “a moderate Parliamentarian”.

John Gore (matric.1613). Sir John Gore, c1597-1659, M.P. for the County of Hertfordshire 1656 (according to Venn; the returns have been defaced, so this cannot be confirmed). Son of Sir John Gore, Lord Mayor of London.

Samuel Browne (adm.1614). Sir Samuel Browne, died 1668, M.P. for Dartmouth, Devon 1640LP, for the County of Bedfordshire 1660. Commissioner of the Great Seal, Justice of the Common Pleas.

Robert King (adm.1614). Sir Robert King, died 1657, M.P. for Sligo, Roscommon and Leitrim Counties 1654. Member of the Council of State. He also sat for Roscommon in the Irish Parliaments of 1634 and 1639.

Spencer Compton (adm.1614). Colonel-General Lord Compton, K.B., 2^nd Earl of Northampton 1630 by succession, 1601-1643, M.P. for Ludlow, Shropshire 1621, summoned to the House of Lords in his father’s lifetime as Lord Compton in 1626. Master of the Robes, Member of the Council of Wales, impeached by Parliament for refusing to abandon the King in 1642. Killed at the Battle of Hopton Heath commanding a Royalist army.

William Strickland (matric.1614). Sir Walter Strickland, P.C., Knight, Baronet by creation, 1596-1673, M.P. for Hedon, Yorks.1640LP, for the East Riding of Yorkshire 1654, and possibly 1656 (the records do not survive). An ardent Parliamentarian and committee member, commanded the Parliamentary forces at Hull.

Oliver St John (adm.1615). Sir Oliver St John, K.B., Lord St John of Bletsoe (as son of the Earl of Bolingbroke), died 1642, M.P. for the County of Bedfordshire 1624, 1625, 1626, 1628, summoned to the House of Lords as Lord St John of Bletsoe in his father’s lifetime 1641. Killed fighting on the Parliamentary side at the battle of Edgehill.

George Sondes (matric.1615). Sir George Sondes, K.B., Baron Throwley, Viscount Sondes and Earl of Feversham 1676 by creation, 1600-1677, M.P. for Higham Ferrers, Northants.1626, 1628, for Ashburton, Devon 1661, sitting till 1676 when he was made a peer. Imprisoned 1645-50 for his Royalist sympathies. His younger son Freeman was hanged in 1655 for murdering his brother George (both were members of Sidney Sussex); father-in-law of Louis de Duras, Marquis de Blanquefort, K.G, (nephew of the great Marshal Turenne), Lieutenant-General of the Forces of Charles II and James II and commander of the King’s army at the Battle of Sedgemoor, who succeeded him as Earl of Feversham.

Oliver St John (matric.1616, Chancellor of the University). c1598-1673, M.P. for Totnes 1640SP, 1640LP. Solicitor General, Parliament’s substitute Attorney General, Commissioner of the Great Seal, Chief Justice of Common Pleas, Member of the Council of State until 1653 and in 1659, Ambassador to the United Provinces. He refused to join the Commission to try Charles I. Friend and ally at first of Oliver Cromwell. He escaped punishment at the Restoration but died in exile in Augsburg.

Francis Bacon (matric.1617). Born 1600, M.P. for Ipswich, Suffolk 1645-53 (elected in place of a deceased M.P.), 1654, perhaps 1656 (no record survives), 1659, 1660. Master of Requests.

Thomas Hunt (matric.1617). Colonel Thomas Hunt, Parliamentary soldier, 1599-1669, M.P. for Shrewsbury Borough 1645, replacing a ‘disabled to sit’ M.P.

Robert Reynolds (matric.1617). Sir Robert Reynolds, 1601-1661, M.P. for Hindon, Wilts.1640LP, for Whitchurch, Hants.1659. Solicitor General to the Commonwealth, Treasurer, Attorney General. Refused to be involved in the trial of Charles I.

Robert Stapleton (matric.1617). 1601-1635, M.P. for Aldborough, Yorks. 1628.

Philip Stapleton (matric.1617). Colonel Sir Philip Stapleton, 1603-1647, M.P. for Boroughbridge, Yorks.1640LP until his death. Parliamentary soldier and Commander of Essex’s Bodyguard and Colonel of Horse. Parliamentary Commissioner in Yorkshire. Fought at the Battles of Edgehill, Chalgrove Field and Newbury. Member of the Committee of Safety. Impeached after opposing the Self-denying Ordinance and plotting against Cromwell, escaped but died in exile in Calais.

Capell Beadle (matric.1618). Sir Capell Beadle, Baronet by creation, 1602-1643, M.P. for Hertford Borough 1626, for the County of Huntingdonshire 1628, 1640SP.

James Fiennes (matric.1618, migrated to Emmanuel 1622). James, 9^th Baron and 2^nd Viscount Saye and Sele 1662 by succession, 1603-1674, M.P. for Banbury, Oxon.1625, for the County of Oxfordshire 1626, 1628, 1640SP, 1640LP-1648, and perhaps 1660 (no returns found to confirm). Son of William, first Viscount Saye and Sele, leading Parliamentarian and Puritan.

Philip Parker (adm.1618). Sir Philip Parker, died 1675, M.P. for the County of Suffolk 1640SP, 1640LP-1648.

Arthur Capell (adm.1619). Sir Arthur Capell, Baron Capel of Hadham 1641 by creation, 1604-1649, M.P. for the County of Hertfordshire 1640SP, 1640LP until his elevation to the Lords in 1641. An ardent Royalist and devoted attendant of the King and Queen, captured at the siege of Colchester, imprisoned but escaped from the Tower, recaptured, beheaded for High Treason. His son was created Earl of Essex at the Restoration and was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

John Manners (adm.1619). John, 8^th Earl of Rutland 1641 by succession, 1604-1679, M.P. for the County of Derbyshire 1626, 1640SP. One of the peers who remained at Westminster when summoned by the King to a Parliament in Oxford in 1643. Parliamentary Commissioner for the Great Seal and to treat with the Scots, Member of the Committee for Excise and for the Navy and Customs, Chief Justice in Eyre North of Trent. His son, one of the chief supporters of the Glorious Revolution, was made a Duke in 1703.

Henry Slingsby (matric.1619). Sir Henry Slingsby, Baronet of Nova Scotia by creation, 1602-1658, M.P. for Knaresborough, Yorks.1625, 1640SP, 1640LP until ‘disabled to sit’ in 1642. Fought at the Battle of Naseby on the Royalist side, deprived of his estates. Executed after implication in a plot for a Royalist uprising in Yorkshire.

Calcott Chambers or Chambre (matric.1619, migrated to Trinity, Oxford 1621). 1601-1635, M.P. for Banbury, Oxon. 1626.

George Fenwick (matric.1619). Colonel George Fenwick, 1602-1657, M.P. for Morpeth, Northumberland 1645-53 (replacing an M.P. ‘disabled to sit’), for Berwick-upon-Tweed 1654, 1656. He had emigrated to Connecticut in 1636 but returned in 1645 to fight on the Parliamentary side. Commander of the Leith Garrison. Commissioner for the Government of Scotland.

Humphrey Mackworth (matric.1619). Colonel Humphrey Mackworth, died 1654, M.P. for the County of Shropshire 1654 and perhaps 1656 (returns lost). Parliamentary commander and Governor of Shrewsbury. He was buried in Westminster Abbey but disinterred and reburied elsewhere at the Restoration.

John Mostyn or Moston (adm.1619). Died 1644, M.P. for the County of Anglesey 1624, for the County of Flint 1640SP, 1640LP until ‘disabled to sit’ in 1644.

Walter Strickland (matric.1619). Died 1670, M.P. for Minehead, Somerset 1645-53, replacing another M.P., for the County of Yorkshire 1653 in Cromwell’s nominated Assembly, for the West Riding of Yorkshire 1654, for Newark, Notts.1656 (not confirmed as the returns are lost), for Thirsk, Yorks.1661 until his death in 1670. Agent of the Long Parliament to the States General of the United Provinces. Member of several Commonwealth committees and councils.

Patrick Curwin (matric.1620). Sir Patrick Curwin, Baronet by creation, died 1664, M.P. for the County of Cumberland 1625, 1626, 1628, 1640SP, 1640LP until ‘disabled to sit’, 1661 until his death.

Henry Lawrence (adm.1621, migrated to Emmanuel 1622). Died 1664, M.P. for the County of Westmorland 1646-53, replacing an M.P. ‘disabled to sit’, for the County of Hertfordshire in the 1653 Assembly and 1654, for the County of Caernarvonshire 1656. A close ally of Cromwell, Commissioner for Ireland, Lord President of the Council of State 1653-59. He also wrote religious works.

William Roberts (adm.1622, migrated to Emmanuel 1622). Sir William Roberts, Baronet by creation, 1605-1662, M.P. for Middlesex 1656. A member of Cromwell’s Upper House in 1657, Member of the Council of State.

Ferdinando Hastings (adm.1626). Ferdinando, Lord Hastings, 6^th Earl of Huntingdon 1643 by succession, 1609-1656, M.P. for the County of Leicestershire 1625 (this is confirmed, though he was only 16), 1628. Summoned to the House of Lords in 1640 as Lord Hastings in his father’s lifetime. Officially a Commander in the Army of the Commonwealth, but tried to remain neutral and allowed the King to stay at his home before and after the Battle of Naseby.

Lawrence Oxburghe (Adm. Gonville and Caius 1624, migrated to Q 1626). c1611-1678, M.P. for Aldeburgh, Suffolk 1659.

John Clarke (adm.1627). M.P. for Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk 1654, 1656 (unconfirmed, the records do not survive), 1659.

Thomas Hardres or Hardes (matric.1629). Sir Thomas Hardres, 1610-1681, M.P. for Canterbury 1664 (replacing a deceased M.P.), October 1679. King’s Serjeant.

John Hook (matric. Magdalen, Oxford 1622, adm. Q 1630). c1605-1685, M.P. for Haslemere, Surrey 1659 (but unseated two months later), for Winchester, Hants.1660.

Matthew Babington (matric.1631). 1612-1669, M.P. for the County of Leicestershire 1660 (unconfirmed as the returns are lost).

Richard Nevill (matric.1631). 1617-1676, M.P. for the County of Berkshire 1670-76 (replacing Lord Lovelace when he was elevated to the peerage).

John Prettiman or Pretyman (matric.1631). Sir John Prettiman, probably Baronet, 1612-c1676, M.P. for Leicester Borough 1661 until his death. Royalist soldier, present at the taking of Cirencester in 1642, but fined and compelled to sell his estates.

Nicholas Pedley (matric.1633). Sir Nicholas Pedley, c1614-1685, M.P. for the County of Huntingdonshire in the assembly of 1653, perhaps in 1656 (no records survive), 1659, for Huntingdon Borough 1660 (unconfirmed, the records do not survive), 1673 (replacing Viscount Mandeville elevated to the House of Lords), March 1679.

James Compton (adm.1637, apparently already M.A.). Colonel James, Lord Compton, 3^rd Earl of Northampton 1643 by succession, P.C., F.R.S., 1622-1681 M.P. for the County of Warwickshire 1640LP till ‘disabled to sit’ 1643 for being “in actual war against Parliament”. Imprisoned in the Tower in 1659 during an attempted Royalist rising. Leader of the large band of gentlemen who welcomed Charles II back to London in May 1660. A Lord of Trade, Constable of the Tower of London.

Edward Bigland (matric.1637, Fellow c1641-c1644). M.P. for Nottingham Borough 1689-90.

George Clarke (matric.1639). Probably the George Clarke who was M.P. for the County of Northamptonshire 1661.

Thomas Boughton (adm.1644). M.P. for the County of Warwickshire 1645, replacing an M.P. ‘disabled to sit’.

Vincent Denne (adm.1645, matric.1648, migrated to Magdalen, Oxford 1648, Student of Christchurch). c1628-1693, M.P. for Canterbury, Kent 1681.

Miles Fleetwood (adm.1646). Died 1688, M.P. for New Woodstock, Oxon.1659, for the County of Northamptonshire October 1679, 1681.

Richard Meredith (matric.1647). Sir Richard Meredith, Baronet by succession. Died 1679, M.P. for the County of Kent 1656 (unconfirmed, no surviving returns), for Sandwich, Cinque Ports 1659.

William Hyde (adm.1652). 1635-1694, M.P. for Stamford, Lincs. Mar 1679, Oct 1679, 1681, 1689, 1690-94. Captain of Horse, Lincoln Militia.

Edward Mansell (adm.1653). Sir Edward Mansell, 4th Baronet by succession, 1637-1706, M.P. for the County of Glamorgan 1660 (unconfirmed, returns do not survive), 1670-79 (replacing the Earl of Pembroke on his elevation to the Lords), 1681, 1685,

Thomas Jenner (matric.1655). Sir Thomas Jenner, 1638-1707, M.P. for Rye, Cinque Ports 1685. King’s Serjeant, Recorder of London, Baron of the Exchequer, Justice of Common Pleas. Imprisoned after trying to escape with James II.

Philip Gurdon (adm. Emmanuel 1650, M.A. from Q 1657). Died 1690, M.P. for Sudbury 1689-90.

Daniel Bedingfield (adm.1657). Died 1704, M.P. for King’s Lynn, Norfolk 1690-95.

Henry Bulkeley (adm.1657). Died 1698, M.P. for the County of Anglesey Mar.1679, for Beaumaris, Anglesey Oct.1679, 1681, 1685. Master of the Household to Charles II and James II. Accompanied James II into exile and died in France.

Villiers Charnock (adm.1661). Sir Villiers Charnock, 2^nd Baronet by succession, c1641-1694, M.P. for the County of Bedfordshire 1685.

Lionel Tollemache (adm.1665). Sir Lionel Tollemache, 4^th Baronet by succession from his father, Lord Huntingtower and 3^rd Earl of Dysart 1698 in the Scottish peerage by succession from his mother, 1649-1727, M.P. for the County of Suffolk 1673 but unseated 1674, for Orford, Suffolk Mar.1679, 1685, for the County of Suffolk 1698-1707 when as a Scottish Peer after the Act of Union he was no longer eligible to sit in the House of Commons. He was the stepson of the statesman John, Duke of Lauderdale.

Robert Coke (matric.1667). c1649-1679, M.P. for King’s Lynn, Norfolk 1675-79, replacing a deceased M.P.

Thomas Tollemache (adm.1668). Lieutenant-General Thomas Tollemache, died 1694, M.P. for Malmesbury, Wilts 1689, for Chippenham, Wilts.1691-94, replacing a deceased M.P. Soldier serving in Flanders, Tangiers and France, Lieutenant-General for William III in Ireland, died of wounds received whilst commanding an attack on Brest.

Henry Pickering (adm.1672). Sir Henry Pickering, 2^nd Baronet by succession, c1653-1705, M.P. for Morpeth, Northumberland 1685, for Cambridge Borough 1698-1705.

Caleb Bankes (adm.1675). c1659-1696, M.P. for Queenborough, Kent 1685, for Maidstone, Kent 1689, for Rochester, Kent (replacing a deceased M.P.) 1691-95, for Queenborough, Kent, 1695-96.

Matthew Ducie-Moreton (adm.1681). Matthew, Lord Ducie, Baron of Moreton 1720 by creation, c1663-1735, M.P. (Whig) for the County of Gloucestershire 1708-13 and 1715-20. Soldier under William III in Flanders. Vice-Treasurer and Privy Councillor of Ireland.

John Pedley (adm.1683, matric.1684). Born c1666. M.P. for Huntingdon Borough 1705-08.

Robert Bruce (adm.1684). The Hon. Robert Bruce, died 1729, M.P. for Marlborough, Wilts.1702-05, for Ludgershall, Wilts.1708-10, for Marlborough 1710-15, for Great Bedwin, Wilts. 1722-27. Seventh son of Robert, 1^st Earl of Ailesbury, a major player in the Restoration of the Monarchy.

James Bruce (adm.1684). The Hon. James Bruce, M.P. for Great Bedwin, Wilts.1702-05, for Marlborough, Wilts. 1708-10. Comptroller for the Accounts of the Army. Eighth son of Robert, Earl of Ailesbury.

Pyncent Chernock (adm.1685). Sir Pyncent Chernock, 3^rd Baronet by succession, died 1734, M.P. for the County of Bedfordshire 1705-08, 1713-15.

William Fytch (adm.1689). c1673-1728, M.P. for Malden, Essex 1701-08, 1711 (replacing a deceased M.P.) until 1712 when he resigned having been appointed to an office of profit by the Crown. Comptroller of Lotteries.

John Sparke (adm.1689). Died 1706, M.P. for Newport, Cornwall 1701-06.

John Gurdon (matric.1690). c1672-1758, M.P. for Sudbury, Suffolk 1699-1700 (replacing a deceased M.P.).

John Dawnay (adm.1691). Born 1674, M.P. for Aldborough, Yorks.1713-15.

William Gore (adm.1691, matric.1692). Died 1739, M.P. for Colchester, Essex 1710-15, for St Albans, Herts.1722-27, for Cricklade, Wilts.1734-39.

John Rolle (adm.1696, matric.1697). Died 1730, M.P. for Saltash, Cornwall 1703-05 (replacing a deceased M.P.), for the County of Devon 1710-13, for Exeter City 1713-15, for Barnstable, Devon 1715-22, for Exeter 1722-27, for the County of Devon 1727 until he died in 1730.

John Plumptre (matric.1697). c1679-1751, M.P. for Nottingham Borough 1706-13 (replacing a deceased M.P.), 1715-27, for Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire 1727-34, for Nottingham 1734-47, for St Ives, Cornwall 1747 until his death in 1751. Brother of Henry Plumptre, President of the Royal College of Physicians, father of John who was also M.P. for Nottingham, Charles who was a Fellow of Queens’ and Archdeacon of Ely, Septimus who was a Fellow of King’s and Robert, President of Queens’ and Professor of Moral Theology, and uncle of Russell, student of Queens’ and Regius Professor of Physic.

Nicholas Williams (matric.1698). Sir Nicholas Williams, Baronet by creation, died 1745, M.P. for the County of Carmarthenshire 1722 until his death in 1745.

William Villiers (matric.1699). William Lord Villiers, 2^nd Earl of Jersey 1711 by succession. 1682-1721. M.P. for the County of Kent 1705-08. He was of Jacobite sympathies and was arrested in 1715 on suspicion of supporting the Old Pretender’s rebellion. Son of Edward Villiers, First Earl of Jersey, Knight Marshal, Ambassador to The Hague and to Paris, Secretary of State for the South, a Lord Justice of England and Lord Chamberlain to William III.

Hervey Elwes (adm.1702). Sir Hervey Elwes, Baronet by succession, died 1763, M.P. for Sudbury, Suffolk 1706-10, 1713-22.

James Reynolds (matric.1702, University Counsel). c1685-1739, M.P. for Bury St Edmunds 1717-22. Serjeant-at-Law, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Judge of the King’s Bench.

John Laroche (born Jean Crothaire) (matric.1717). 1700-1752, M.P. for Bodmin, Cornwall 1727 (replacing a deceased M.P.) until his death in 1752. Son of a Huguenot refugee.

John Wynne (adm.1720). Sir John Wynne, 2^nd Baronet by succession, died 1773, M.P. for the County of Caernarvonshire 1740-41(replacing a deceased M.P.), for Denbigh Borough 1741-47, for Caernarvonshire 1754-61, for Caernarvon Borough 1761-68. Surveyor to the King’s Mines in Wales.

Robert More (adm.1720, matric.1723, Fellow, F.R.S.). c1703-1780, M.P. for Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire 1727-41, for Shrewsbury Borough 1754-61. Traveller and botanist, friend of Linnaeus.

Edmund Hungate Beaghan (matric.1722). Died 1755, M.P. for Winchelsea, Cinque ports 1734-41, for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, Dorset 1747-54.

Thomas Villiers (adm.1728). Thomas, Baron Hyde of Hindon 1756, Earl of Clarendon 1776 by creation, P.C., 1709-1786, M.P. (Whig) for Tamworth, Staffs 1747-56 (when elevated to the Lords). Envoy to Warsaw, Minister Plenipotentiary to Dresden, to Vienna and to Berlin, a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, Postmaster-General, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Count of the Kingdom of Prussia. Second son of William, 2^nd Earl of Jersey. His wife was the granddaughter of Henry Hyde, Earl of Clarendon and Rochester.

Richard Jackson (nicknamed ‘Omniscient’ - Dr Johnson considered ‘All-knowing’ more appropriate - Jackson, K.C., F.S.A., University Counsel) (adm.1739). Died 1787, M.P. for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, Dorset 1762-68 (replacing a deceased M.P.), for New Romney, Cinque Ports (not Romsey as in Venn) 1768-84. Lord Commissioner of the Treasury. As Official Solicitor to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, owners of much land in New England, he was much involved in the preliminaries of the American Revolution; his lengthy correspondence with Benjamin Franklin has been published.

John Thornhagh (took the name John Hewet on succeeding to his godfather’s estates in 1748) (adm.1739). M.P. for the County of Nottinghamshire 1747-74.

Thomas Alston (adm.1740). Sir Thomas Alston, Baronet by succession, died 1774, M.P. for the County of Bedfordshire 1747-61.

Gilbert Heathcote (adm.1741). Sir Gilbert Heathcote, 3^rd Baronet by succession, died 1785, M.P. for Shaftesbury, Dorset 1761-68.

Henry Bridgeman (matric.1744). Sir Henry Bridgeman, LL.D., D.C.L.(Oxon), Baronet by succession, Baron Bradford 1794 by creation, 1725-1800, M.P. for Ludlow, Shropshire 1748-68 (originally replacing a deceased M.P.), for Wenlock, Shropshire 1768-94. He was the grandson of Richard Newport, 2^nd Earl of Bradford, his son Orlando was created Earl of Bradford.

George Savile (adm.1745). Sir George Savile, LL.D., F.R.S., 8^th Baronet by succession, 1726-1784, M.P. (Whig) for the County of Yorkshire 1759-83 (originally replacing a deceased M.P.). In the Commons a staunch supporter of the American colonists and of Catholic emancipation. Friend and patron of the Queens’ scientist John Michell.

Richard Hopkins (matric.1746). c1728-1799, M.P. for Dartmouth, Devon 1766-80, for Thetford, Norfolk 1780-84, for Dartmouth 1784-90, for Queenborough, Kent 1790-96, for Harwich, Essex 1796 until his death in 1799. A Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury.

Thomas Wynn (matric.1754). Colonel Sir Thomas Wynn, F.S.A., 3^rd Baronet by succession, Baron Newborough in the Irish peerage 1776 by creation, 1736-1807, M.P. for the County of Caernarvonshire 1761-74, for St Ives, Cornwall 1775-80 (succeeding an M.P. whose election had been declared void), of Beaumaris, Anglesey 1796 until his death in 1807. Colonel of the Caernarvonshire Militia, Auditor of Wales. At the age of 50, he married as his second wife a 13 year-old Florentine actress, niece of General Chiappini, who later claimed to be the daughter of Louis Philippe, Duke of Orleans, styled herself Marchesina Modigliana and married a Russian baron as her second husband.

George Harry Grey (adm.1755). Colonel Lord George Grey, F.S.A., Lord Grey of Groby, 5^th Earl of Stamford 1768 by succession, Lord Delamere of Dunham Massey and Earl of Warrington (his maternal grandfather’s titles) 1796 by creation, 1737-1819, M.P. (Whig) for the County of Staffordshire 1761-68, when he became a member of the House of Lords. Page of Honour at the Coronation of George III. Colonel of the Cheshire Militia. A descendant of Queen Elizabeth Woodville, he presented the portrait of her in Old Hall.

Booth Grey (matric.1758). The Hon. Booth Grey, 1740-1802, M.P. for Leicester Borough 1768-84. Also presented a portrait to Old Hall. The only man ever admitted to Queens’ as a ‘nobleman’ and so entitled to proceed to a degree without any examinations.

Richard Wrottesley (matric. St John’s, Oxford 1739, matric. St John’s 1756, migrated to Q. 1764). The Very Revd Sir Richard Wrottesley, LL.D., 7^th Baronet by succession, 1721-1769, M.P. for Tavistock 1747-54. Clerk Comptroller of the Household, Principal Clerk of the Board of Green Cloth. Ordained in 1763, Chaplain to the King, Dean of Worcester.

William Northey (matric.1771). Died 1826, M.P. for Newport, Cornwall 1796-1826.

Ayscoghe Boucherett (adm.1773). 1755-1815, M.P. for Great Grimsby, Lincs.1796-1803.

Thomas Boothby Parkyns (adm.1773). Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Parkyns, Baron Rancliffe of Rancliffe in the Irish peerage 1795 by creation, F.R.S., F.S.A.,1755-1800, M.P. for Stockbridge, Hants.1784-90, for Leicester Borough 1790-1800 (he had to stand for re-election 1795 on appointment as Lt-Colonel). Lt-Colonel of the Prince of Wales’s Fencibles. Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons. He was ennobled after “an expensive and gay career as a companion of the Prince of Wales”.

Philip Yorke (adm.1774, High Steward of the University). Colonel Philip Yorke, 3^rd Earl of Hardwicke 1790 by succession, Hon.LL.D., K.G., F.R.S., P.C., F.S.A., 1757-1834, M.P. for the County of Cambridgeshire 1780-90. Viceroy and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. His father, Charles Yorke, was Lord Chancellor for three days.

Peter Payne (adm.1779). 1762-1843, M.P. (Whig) for the County of Bedfordshire 1831-32. Deemed to have inherited a Baronetcy, but did not style himself as such.

Samuel Egerton Bridges or Brydges (adm.1780). Sir Samuel Bridges, Baronet by creation, 1762-1837, M.P. for Maidstone, Kent 1812-18. Bibliographer and genealogist. He persuaded his brother, the Revd Edward Bridges, Fellow of Queens’, to claim the barony of Chandos, insisting they were descended from the first Baron (who died in 1557), but after over 30 legal hearings over 14 years the claim was disallowed – the baronetcy was a consolation prize. From 1818 he lived abroad, mainly in Geneva.

Thomas Creevey (adm.1784). 1768-1838, M.P. (Whig) for Thetford, Norfolk 1802-18, for Appleby, Westmorland 1820-26, for Downton, Wilts 1831-32. Secretary to the Board of Control and thus a junior member of the 1806 ‘Ministry of all the Talents’, Treasurer of Ordnance. Friend and ally of Charles James Fox.

Charles Callis Western (adm.1784). Charles, Baron Western of Rivenhall 1833 by creation, 1767-1844, M.P. (Whig) for Maldon, Essex 1790-1812, for the County of Essex 1812-32.

John Heathcote (adm.1785). 1767-1838, M.P. (Tory) for Ripon, Yorks.1798-1806 (originally replacing a deceased M.P.).

William Busfield or Busfeild (adm.1790, matric. 1791). 1773-1851, M.P. for Bradford, Yorks.1837-41, 41-51.

John Pelham (later Cresset Pelham) (adm. 1787, migr. to Clare 1789). 1769-1838, M.P. (Tory) for Lewes, Sussex 1796-1802, for Shropshire 1822-32 and for Shrewsbury 1835-37. Died of smallpox on board ship off Mauritius.

Lewis Hayes Petit (matric.1792, F.S.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.A.S.). 1774-1849, M.P. (Tory, Whig after 1831) for Ripon, Yorks.1827-32 (originally replacing Viscount Goderich after his elevation to the Lords). Commissioner of Public Records. Antiquary, Governor of the Foundling Hospital.

Thomas Perronet Thompson (matric.1798, Fellow 1806). General Thomas Thompson, F.R.S., 1783-1869, M.P. for Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorks.1835-37, for Bradford, Yorks.1847-52, 1857-59. A serving midshipman in the Navy on his election as a Fellow. Captured as a young officer in an attack on Buenos Aires in 1807. Governor of Sierra Leone. Served with the 95^th Rifles (2^nd Lt), 14^th Light Dragoons (Lt), 17^th Light Dragoons in India, (Major, Colonel, Major-General, General). Proprietor of the Westminster Review. His brother, Captain Charles Thompson, was killed in action near Bayonne in 1813.

Thomas Mills (matric.1815). Died 1862, M.P. (Liberal) for Totnes, Devon 1852-62.

Robert Gore Booth (adm.1823). Sir Robert Gore-Booth, 4^th baronet by succession), 1805-1876, M.P. for Sligo 1850-76. He is said to have mortgaged his estates to help feed his Irish tenants during the Great Famine. He paid for several hundred to emigrate to Canada, though this action has attracted criticism for ‘dumping’ the destitute on the colonies.

Charles Philip Yorke (matric.1835 on receiving an honorary LL.D. from the University). Admiral Charles Yorke, Earl of Hardwicke 1834 by succession, P.C., F.R.S., 1799-1873, M.P. (Conservative) for Reigate 1831-32 (replacing a deceased M.P.), for Cambridgeshire 1832-34. Postmaster-General, Lord Privy Seal. President of the Royal Agricultural Society.

William Harold Webbe (matric.1904). Sir Harold Webbe, 1885-1965, M.P. (Conservative) for Westminster, Abbey 1939-50, for Cities of London and Westminster 1950-59. Also a Member of the London County Council for 24 years.

Cyril Tom Culverwell (matric.1913). 1895-1963, M.P. (Conservative) for Bristol West 1928-45.

William Stanley Russell Thomas (matric.1915). 1896-1957, M.P. (National Liberal) for Southampton 1940-45. Remarkably he never won a contested election, being unopposed in a war-time by-election in 1940, but losing on six other occasions between 1931 and 1955.

Allan Chapman (matric.1926). 1897-1966, M.P. (Conservative/Scottish Unionist) for Rutherglen 1935-45. Assistant Postmaster-General, Under Secretary for Scotland.

William John Peel (matric.1930). Sir John Peel, 1912-2004, M.P. (Conservative) for Leicester South-East 1957-74. Governor of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. Government Whip.

Charles Fitzmaurice Creighton Simeons (matric.1940). 1921- 2014, M.P. (Conservative) for Luton 1970-74.

Spencer Lee Baptiste (matric.1964). Born 1945, M.P. (Conservative) for Elmet, Yorks. 1983-97.

David Laurie Ruffley (matric.1981). Born 1962, M.P. (Conservative) for Bury St Edmunds 1997-2015. Front Bench spokesman on Welfare Reform, on Police Reform.

Elizabeth Louise Kendall (matric.1990). Born1971. M.P. (Labour) for Leicester West 2010-present. Front Bench spokesman on Health.

Stephen Nathan Kinnock (matric.1988). Born 1970. M.P. (Labour) for Aberavon 2015-

Suella Cassiana Braverman (née Fernandes) (matric.1998). Born 1980. M.P. (Conservative) for Fareham 2015- . Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union.

Julia Louise Lopez (née Dockerill) (matric. 2002). Born 1984. M.P. (Conservative) for Hornchurch and Upminster 2017- . Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office 2020-21, Minister of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 2021-

Neil Peter Hammerton Hudson (matric. 1988). Born 1969. M.P. (Conservative) for Penrith and The Border 2019-.

List updated 2021 September 24.