John Scrope (MP)

John Scrope (circa 1662 – 9 April 1752) was a British lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1722 to 1752.

[2] Scrope was a close ally of Sir Robert Walpole, First Lord of the Treasury from 1721 to 1742,[3] and after Walpole's resignation was called by a committee of parliament, the Committee of Secrecy under the chairmanship of Lord Limerick, to account for £1,059,211-6s-2d, part of £1,384,600-6s-3d [4] which had passed through Treasury hands within ten years, that could not be accounted for.

[6] Paxton was confined in Newgate Prison, allowed his wife's company but neither was permitted communication with anyone nor the possession of pen or ink or paper.

Scrope's honesty, financial knowledge and ability was such that he remained Secretary to the Treasury until his death at about the age of 90, serving more than 28 years in that post.

Their second son, Thomas Fane, also a Bristol merchant, succeeded his uncle to Wormsley Park and as Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis.