Background
John Stradling was born the son of Francis and Elizabeth Stradling of Street George, Bristol, but adopted by his great-uncle, Sir Edward Stradling.
John Stradling was born the son of Francis and Elizabeth Stradling of Street George, Bristol, but adopted by his great-uncle, Sir Edward Stradling.
He was educated under Edward Green, a canon of Bristol, before matriculating at Brasenose College, Oxford in 1580. He graduated Bachelor from Magdalen Hall in 1584, having gained a reputation as "a miracle for his forwardness in learning and pregnancy of parts".
After studying for a while at one of the inns of court, he travelled abroad. Stradling was Sheriff of Glamorgan for 1608 and 1620. Knighted on 15 May 1608, he was then described as living in Shropshire.
In 1609, on the death of Sir Edward Stradling, he inherited Street Donat"s Castle and estate in Glamorgan.
On 22 May 1611 he was created Baronet. To carry out the wishes of his great-uncle, Stradling built, equipped, and endowed Cowbridge Grammar School, though the endowment seems to have subsequently lapsed until the school was refounded by Sir Leoline Jenkins.
Their eldest daughter Jane married William Thomas of Wenvoe, and had a daughter Elizabeth, who married the regicide Edmund Ludlow. Stradling enjoyed a great reputation for learning.
He "was courted and admired" by William Camden, who quotes him as "vir doctissimus" in his Britannia, by Sir John Harington, Thomas Leyson, and Ioan David Rhys, to all of whom he wrote epigrams.
Useless Parliament; Happy Parliament. 2nd Parliament of King Charles I]
Stradling was Member of Parliament for Saint Germans, Cornwall, (1623–1624), Old Salisbury (1625), and Glamorgan (1625–1626).