John Melhuish was an English merchant and politician. He was a Member of Parliament for Truro, Cornwall 1554 to 1555.[1]

John Melhuish was a tin merchant from Truro. After a municipal career as a Mayor of Truro he was elected to Parliament along with Nicholas Randall.[1] In 1553 they aligned with Queen Mary and voted against the Protestant opposition to the Crown.[1] In 1554 Melhuish abandoned Parliament without a licence and evaded summons to the King's Bench.[1] For three years in a row, 1555 to end of 1557, he was fined for contempt of court in absentia.[1] Officers of the Duchy of Cornwall pressed their own charges against Melhuish.[1] Bankrupted, he fled his home town and sought protection from his creditors, which was granted by the Crown in 1558.[1] He settled near Buckfastleigh in Devon, styled himself "late of Truro" and retired from politics.[1]

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Bindoff, Stanley T. et al. (1982). The House of Commons: 1509 - 1558; 1, Appendices, constituencies, members A - C, Volume 4. Boydell & Brewer. ISBN 0-436-04282-7. p. 595.