Richard Strode (fl. 1512)

Richard Strode (floruit 1512) was in 1512 a Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle, Devon and was also involved in the tin mining industry.

Although it is almost certain he belonged to the ancient Strode family seated at Newnham[1] in the parish of Plympton St Mary in Devon, of which many subsequently were MP for Plympton Erle, his identity is not certain.

He was possibly the Richard Strode who is known to have married Joan Pennalls, the younger son of Richard Strode (d.1464) of Newnham[2] whose effigy fully dressed in armour survives in St Mary's Church, Plympton.

[4] With the aid of some fellow MPs, Strode attempted to introduce legislation restricting the rights of tin miners on Dartmoor.

He was released three weeks later by a letter from the Exchequer; at Strode's request, Parliament had passed a law (Strode's Act) reversing the local court decision and granting him immunity from further prosecution related to his parliamentary activities.