The Acton family was a 14th-century English

political family A political family (also referred to as political dynasty) is a family in which multiple members are involved in politics — particularly Election, electoral politics. Members may be related by consanguinity, blood or marriage; often several gene ...

. The four members, Laurence Acton Sr., Laurence Acton Jr., William Acton Sr., and William Acton Jr., all served as members of parliament (MPs).

Members

William Acton Sr.

William Acton was bailiff of

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

"almost continuously" from 1336 until 1351. He represented the town's constituency as MP twice during this period. Two of his sons – William Jr. and Laurence Sr. – and a grandson Laurence Acton Jr. were also MPs.

William Acton Jr.

William Acton was an English politician who was MP for an unknown constituency and a mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne. The History of Parliament Online described his career as having been similar to that of his father, William Acton Sr., also an MP from Newcastle. His younger brother, Laurence Acton Sr. and nephew, Laurence Acton Jr., were also MPs.

Laurence Acton Sr.

Laurence Acton (died 1386 or 1387) was a Member of Parliament during the 1370s and a six-time

bailiff A bailiff is a manager, overseer or custodian – a legal officer to whom some degree of authority or jurisdiction is given. There are different kinds, and their offices and scope of duties vary. Another official sometimes referred to as a '' ...

. His father, William Acton, his elder brother – also named William – and his namesake son, were all MPs.

Laurence Acton Jr.

Laurence Acton (died 1410) was an MP for Newcastle upon Tyne in 1386, 1391, September 1397, and 1399. The son of the MP of the same name, his grandfather and uncle were both MPs named William Acton. He was also bailiff (1385 to 1393), justice of the peace (26 December 1390), and

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

(1393–1396) of the aforementioned town.

References

{{Reflist Political families of the United Kingdom 14th-century English MPs