John Oglander

Sir John Oglander (12 May 1585 – 28 November 1655) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1625 to 1629. He is now remembered as a diarist.

Life Oglander was born at Nunwell House on the Isle of Wight, the son of William Oglander of West Dean, Sussex. In 1620, he was appointed deputy-governor of Portsmouth by William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke. He resigned in 1624 when he was made Deputy Governor of the Isle of Wight. He also commanded a company of the Isle of Wight Trained Bands in 1625, and a 'division' of the trained bands in 1628.

In 1625, Oglander was elected member of parliament for Yarmouth (Isle of Wight). He was re-elected MP for Yarmouth in 1626 and 1628 and sat until 1629

Sir John Oglander lost his deputy-governor position, and was twice arrested by the parliamentarians during the First English Civil War, but was treated leniently in the end, in 1645. He took a concerned interest in the king's safety in 1647 and 1648 when Charles was in Carisbrooke Castle. Warned, however, of informers among the courtiers by Robert Hammond, he backed off. In 1650 he was visited by Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Elizabeth; was arrested again in early 1651; and was again released on surety.

At times of great personal emotion, some entries were written in his own blood. In April 2013, Sir John was one of five contrasting subjects featured in the first episode of the BBC Four series, The Century that Wrote Itself, presented by Adam Nicolson.