John Parsons (died 1717)

He was the son of John Parsons, a brewer, of East Smithfield, London and his wife, Jane.

[3] Parsons was the owner of the Red Lion Brewery in East Smithfield, a business he inherited from his father.

This brewing business in London was popular for its strong stout, known as "Parson's Black Champagne".

[4] Parsons was a joint farmer of excise for Cumberland, county Durham, Northumberland and Westmorland from 1671 to 1674.

[1] In early 1695, Sir John Parsons was listed as a trustee for a scheme to launch "the Royal Academies" using lotteries for admission.

[citation needed] Parsons was returned as Tory Member of Parliament for Reigate at the 1685 English general election.

He was knighted by James II on 15 August 1687 at Windsor Castle[7] and served as Sheriff of London for the year 1687 to 1688.

[12] His daughter Anne (by his second wife) married the barrister John Wainwright, who became a much-loved judge in Ireland, where he died of Famine fever while on assize in 1741.