STRANGE, Sir John (c.1696-1754), of Leyton Grange, Essex

Strange was a Government lawyer, and was provided by them with a seat in Parliament. Before the general election of 1754 he told Henry Pelham, who had offered to bring him in again without expense, that ‘it was very indifferent to him whether he was in Parliament now or on any future vacancy’. But Newcastle, on becoming first lord of the Treasury, persuaded him to change his mind, ‘the King thinking it extremely for his service that the master of the rolls should be in Parliament’.Add. 32734, ff. 239, 316. Strange was returned for Totnes after a contest, but died on 18 May 1754 before Parliament met.