John Staniforth

John Staniforth (1771–1830) was a British politician and director of the Bank of England. Early life John Staniforth was the son of Charles Staniforth, a merchant of both the Broad Street Buildings, London and Kingston-Upon-Hull, and his wife Ann Green. His uncles John Staniforth (1725-1798), Philip Green and Joseph Green were notable Hull shipowners, and his uncle Joseph Green was based in Königsberg. On his father's death in 1797, John went into partnership with John Blunt, and carried on his father's London business. Parliamentary career His uncle Philip Green brought him to Hull and persuaded him to stand for election to Parliament. Philip Green used his own popularity, gained through his shipping interests which brought money into the town, to ensure that John was elected in 1802 to represent Hull, a seat he would hold until 1818. Philip Green died in 1803 and Staniforth increased his interest in Hull by setting up his own shipping business. He participated in attracting the East India Company to the Hull ports and in 1804 he procured naval contracts with the Hull naval yard. He was a director of the Bank of England from 1807 to 1819.