John Barnard

Sir John Barnard ( – 28 August 1764) was an English merchant and Whig politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1738. Early life Barnard was the son of a Quaker merchant from Reading, Berkshire, also named John Barnard and his wife, Sarah, daughter of Robert Payne of Play Hatch in Oxfordshire part of Sonning. He abandoned the Quakers early in his life, and is said to have been baptised into the Anglican faith by Henry Compton, Bishop of London. The younger John Barnard initially worked alongside his father as a London City merchant. He was elected at the 1722 general election as one of the four members of parliament (MPs) for the City of London. Political career Barnard was a vigorous campaigner for the commercial interests that were his principal City of London constituency. In 1734 he successfully promoted an Act of Parliament (7 Geo. 2. c. 8) "to prevent the infamous practice of Stock-Jobbing". This Act, which was renewed in 1737, later became known as "Sir John Barnard's Act" in recognition of his efforts. He was selected one of the two Sheriffs of London for 1736–37.