Peter Middleton (MP)

Peter Middleton (1603–1661) was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1659 and 1660.

Middleton was the son of Robert Middleton, merchant of London and his wife Margaret Mounsel, daughter of John Mounsel, merchant of Weymouth. In 1627 he became a Turkey merchant and joined the Levant and East India Companies. He was later living in Russia, where he was probably a buyer of furs. He held £1,000 stock in the East India Company, and was a member of the committee of the company from 1659 until his death.^[1]

In 1659, Middleton was elected Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in the Third Protectorate Parliament. He was re-elected MP for the constituency in 1660, when he was involved in a double return to the Convention Parliament but was accepted by the House on 5 May. He was one of the five MPs who were authorised to raise a loan of £2,000 in the City of London and who then funded the loan from their own pockets after they met with some difficulty. They received the thanks of the House on 25 May. He was a commissioner for assessment for London from August 1660. He stood for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in 1661 but was defeated.^[1]

Middleton died at the age of about 58 and was buried at St. Dunstan in the East on 24 December 1661.^[1]

Middleton married Mary Parry, widow of Fulke Parry, Merchant Taylor of London, after 25 July 1657 and had n children.^[1]

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