John Burridge

John Burridge (c.1681 – 2 February 1753) of London and Lyme Regis, Dorset, was a British merchant and Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1710 to 1728.

Burridge was the second son. of Robert Burridge merchant of Lyme Regis, and his wife Mary. He established himself as a London merchant and shipowner, trading to the West Indies, Spain and America but kept a business interest in the West country. He married Martha, Ledgingham, daughter of Warwick Ledgingham of Ottery St. Mary Devon in 1695. His wife had inherited the manor of Ottery St. Mary in Devon and his uncle, John Burridge. settled a reversionary life interest in the manor of Thorn Falcon in Somerset on him at the time of his marriage. Burridge later bought from his father the reversion of Charmouth in Dorset.

Burridge became a Freeman of Lyme Regis 1704, and obtained a political interest of his own by making a loan of £300 to the corporation and securing a mortgage on the town's waterworks. At the beginning of 1708, Burridge was one of the merchants whose complaints about shipping losses led to an inquiry in the Lords into the shortage of cruisers and convoys. At the 1710 general election he succeeded his uncle to what had virtually become the family seat at Lyme Regis. He soon made clear his Whig political allegiance by voting for the motion of ‘No Peace Without Spain’ on 7 December 1711. On 6 June 171, he told in favour of a bill to continue the Act enabling Quakers to affirm. He voted against the French wines duties bill on 6 May 1713. Marked as a Whig who was engaged in trade, Burridge also voted against the French commerce bill on 18 June 1713. He was returned unopposed for Lyme Regis at the 1713 general election and voted against the expulsion of Richard Steele on 18 March 1714.

Burridge died without issue on 2 February 1753.