Sir John Evelyn

Sir John Evelyn was an English landowner with extensive estates in Surrey. His great-grandfather established the family fortune by a grant of the monopoly of making gunpowder under the Tudors. His father lost the monopoly in 1636, and continued his life as a member of landed gentry.

Evelyn had enriched himself by marrying Mary Farmer, whose father bestowed on him two manors in Godstone, Marden (now in Woldingham) and Flower, and the manor of Tillingdon in Tandridge. He also inherited his father’s extensive estate in Godstone, including the manors of Walkhampstead or Godstone, Godstone Place, and Lee Place. John quarreled extensively with his family to obtain more money from his father’s inheritance, but ultimately and ironically his brother George inherited even his estates after he died in 1671.

Evelyn was created a baronet on 29 May 1660, and was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey for the year 1666.