Pym, John 1584-1643
English politician

Born in Brymore, near Bridgwater, he became a student of the Middle Temple. In 1614 he became an MP for Calne, exchanging that seat in 1625 for Tavistock. He became a member of the Country party, opposing monopolies, papistry, the Spanish match and absolutism with such vigour that he was imprisoned for three months. In 1626 he took a prominent part in the impeachment of the Duke of Buckingham. In 1628 he was second only to Sir John Eliot in supporting the Petition of Right, but opposed him on tonnage and poundage. In the Long Parliament he named the Earl of Strafford, formerly his friend and ally, as the 'principal author and promotor of all those counsels which had exposed the kingdom to so much ruin'. He played the leading part in Strafford's ensuing impeachment, and was also conspicuous in the proceedings against Archbishop Laud. He was one of the five members whom Charles I attempted to arrest in 1642. When war broke out he remained in London. He died a month after being appointed Lieutenant of the Ordnance.

Bibliography: C E Wade, John Pym (1912)