Sir William Beecher (1580–1651) was an English diplomat, soldier and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1629.

Beecher was Chargé d'Affaires in France from 1609 to 1610.[1] In 1614, he was elected Member of Parliament for Knaresborough in the Addled Parliament. He was Agent or Chargé d'Affaires in Francs from 1617 to 1619.[1] In 1621 he was elected MP for Shaftesbury and Leominster and was expelled at Shaftesbury. He was knighted in 1622. He served as Clerk of the Privy Council from 1623 until he resigned in 1641.[2] In 1624 he was elected MP for Leominster again. He was elected MP for Dover in 1625 and for Ilchester in 1626. In 1627 he took part in the Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Ré when he commanded a small supply fleet with 400 raw troops.[3] In 1629 he was elected MP for Windsor and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. He was awarded MA at Cambridge University in 1629.[4]

Beecher was of Durham Gate, The Strand, Westminster and of Putney, Surrey. He died in 1651.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b Gary M. Bell, A handlist of British diplomatic representatives 1509-1688 (Royal Historical Society, Guides and handbooks, 16, 1990
  2. ^ a b History of Parliament Online - Beecher, William
  3. ^ Mark C. Fissel (1991). War and Government in Britain: 1598-1650. Manchester University Press. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7190-2887-8.
  4. ^ "Beecher, William (BCR629W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
Parliament of England Preceded bySir Henry SlingsbyWilliam Slingsby Member of Parliament for Knaresborough 1614 With: Sir Henry Slingsby Succeeded bySir Henry SlingsbySir Richard Hutton Preceded byHenry CrokeSir Simeon Steward Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury 1621 With: Thomas Sheppard Succeeded byPercy HerbertRalph Hopton Preceded bySir Humphrey BaskervilleThomas Coningsby Member of Parliament for Leominster 1621–1624 With: Francis Smallman 1621–1622James Tomkins Succeeded byJames TomkinsEdward Littelton Preceded bySir Edward CecilSir Richard Young Member of Parliament for Dover 1625 With: John Hippisley Succeeded byJohn HippisleyJohn Pringle Preceded byRichard WynnSir Robert Gorges Member of Parliament for Ilchester 1626 With: Robert Caesar Succeeded bySir Robert GorgesSir Henry Berkeley Preceded byWilliam RussellHumphrey Newbury Member of Parliament for Windsor 1628–1629 With: Thomas Hewett Parliament suspended until 1640
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