John Acland (died 1553)

Little if anything is known of his life and career, he was possibly a minor Tudor official,[2] but he is chiefly remembered for his surviving portrait which is displayed at Killerton House, the earliest surviving image of an Acland and one of the most cherished in that family's former collection,[2] now owned by the National Trust.

[3] The Acland family is believed to have migrated to England from Flanders soon after the Norman Conquest[3] and were in the late 20th century probably the oldest surviving landed family in Devon, which by the 19th century possessed a huge estate in the West Country of almost 40,000 acres.

[4] They had the following children:[6] After Acland's death, Margaret remarried to John Brett of Whitestaunton.

[4] In addition to his estate of Acland, by the 1550s John Acland held lands in the parishes of Loxbeare, Chittlehampton, Tedburn St Mary, High Bray and Swimbridge.

[4] His will was proved by his widow on 1 June 1554 in the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Exeter.