John Mountstephen facts for kids

John Mountstephen, also known as John Mountsteven, (28 April 1644 – 19 December 1706) was a Member of Parliament for the Cornish constituency of West Looe.

He was sponsored by the Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland for eighteen years, for whom he served as an under-secretary. He died in December 1706 following the disclosure he was an informer selling state secrets to the French.

Family

Mountstephen was the second son of John Mountsteven and Elizabeth (née Tamlyn) of St Mabyn, Cornwall. He was educated at Bodmin school and Christ Church, Oxford. Mountstephen purchased the barton of Lancarffe (Helland) in 1685 from the Bullock family while secretary to the Earl of Sutherland. His brother, William inherited Lancarffe, after a jury returned a verdict of lunacy following John's death.