About John Powell
Lived 1645 – 1713 (aged 67–68). John Powell was an English and British judge and politician.
John Powell (1645–1713), of Gloucester, was an English politician and lawyer.
He was elected as Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for Gloucester in 1685.
Legal career He was appointed as a Baron of the Exchequer in 1691, and transferred to Common Pleas in 1695 and then to Queen's Bench in 1702. He was the judge at one of England's last witchcraft trials, that of Jane Wenham in 1712. He demonstrated scepticism regarding the accused's alleged supernatural activities, but the jury convicted her anyway. She received a pardon.
Legacy Powell was unmarried and left most of his estate to a niece. He had property at Deerhurst where he reportedly discovered Odda's Dedication Stone, now in the Ashmolean Museum.
He has a memorial in Gloucester Cathedral sculpted by Thomas Green of Camberwell.
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Important facts
People in John Powell's life
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Frequently asked questions
Who was John Powell?
Member of the Parliament of England for Gloucester
When was John Powell born?
John Powell was born in 1645.
When did John Powell die?
John Powell died in 1713.
What was John Powell's occupation?
John Powell was a judge and politician.
What nationality was John Powell?
John Powell was English and British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Powell (1645–1713)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Powell. https://biography.guide/john-powell-judge/
MLA: "John Powell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-powell-judge/.
Chicago: "John Powell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-powell-judge/.
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