John Strangways (died 1666)

John Strangways (died 1666) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1628 and 1666.

Strangways was the son of Sir John Strangways of Melbury Sampford, Dorset, and his wife Grace Trenchard, daughter of Sir George Trenchard of Wolfeton. He matriculated at Magdalen College, Oxford, on 27 November 1618, aged 13. He was a student of Middle Temple in 1620.

He was elected Member of Parliament for Bridport in 1628 and sat until 1629 when King Charles I decided to rule without parliament for eleven years.

In April 1640, Strangways was elected MP for Dorset in the Short Parliament. He was re-elected MP for Dorset for the Long Parliament in November 1640. He supported the Royalist cause during the English Civil War, and was disabled from sitting in parliament in 1642. His estates were sequestered.

After the Restoration, Strangways was elected MP for Dorset in 1661 for the Cavalier Parliament and sat until his death in 1666.

Strangways married Susanna Ridout, daughter of Thomas Ridout of Frome Biellett, Dorset. They had several children, including:

• John Strangways (c. 1634 - 1676), MP for Dorchester.
• Giles Strangways, MP for Dorset.
• Thomas Strangways (died 1713)
• Wadham Strangways
• Susanna Strangways, who married Sir Stephen Fox.