John Bankes (died 1714)

File:William Reader (d. after 1700) - John Bankes I (1665–1714), MP - 1257155 - National Trust.jpg

John Bankes (1665 – 14 July 1714) was a British Tory politician, who served as Member of Parliament for Corfe Castle.

Life

Bankes was the son of Sir Ralph Bankes {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MP}} (son of Sir John Bankes, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas) and his wife Mary, daughter of John Brune.{{cite web|website=The History of Parliament|title=BANKES, John (c.1668-1714), of Kingston Lacy and Corfe Castle, Dorset|url=https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/member/bankes-john-1668-1714|access-date=21 December 2023}}

In 1691, Bankes married Margaret, daughter of Sir Henry Parker {{post-nominals|country=GBR|Bt|MP}}. Two of their sons, John and Henry, went on to serve as MP for Corfe Castle.

Bankes first stood at Corfe Castle – a family seat, which his father had previously represented – in the 1698 general election. The election was contested, and Bankes survived a petition from the losing candidate for voting irregularities. Bankes and Richard Fownes were returned unopposed at every subsequent election until they both died in 1714.{{cite web|website=The History of Parliament|title=Corfe Castle|url=https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1690-1715/constituencies/corfe-castle|access-date=21 December 2023}}

Bankes was also hereditary constable of Corfe Castle and hereditary Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Purbeck.

On 14 July 1714, Bankes was attempting to lift a blunderbuss hanging on his bedroom wall at Kingston Lacy when it discharged, shooting him fatally through the head.{{cite web|website=Dorset History Centre: The Bankes Archive|title=A death in the family: the debacle of John Bankes III's death|url=https://app.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/bankes-archive/a-death-in-the-family-the-debacle-of-john-bankes-iiis-death/|access-date=21 December 2023}} He was buried at Wimborne Minster.