John Jolliffe

John Jolliffe was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1679.

Jolliffe was a merchant of the city of London, and a member of the Worshipful Company of Skinners, an association of merchants engaged in trade of skins and furs. In 1661 he held a post of Master of the Skinners Company.

He was also a member of the committee of the English East India Company from 1657 until 1658, and again from 1660 until his death. In 1665 he became Deputy Governor of the East India Company, and held that position for the following two years.

Jolliffe was also involved in the work of two other companies – the Levant Company and the Muscovy Company. He was regarded as one of the leading merchants in the Mediterranean trade. In the Levant Company he was initially treasurer (1659-1661), and later the governor (1672-1673). As a governor of the Muscovy Company he was planning to revive the caviar trade.

Besides business, Jolliffe was also actively engaged in politics. In 1658 he was elected alderman for Bishopsgate ward, and two years later he was elected Member of Parliament for Heytesbury in the Convention Parliament.

He died in 1680, and was buried at St. Martin Outwich. He had not invested in land, and his personal estate (including £2,500 in the East India Company) was valued at £34,323.