Sir William Strode of Newnham, Plympton Street Mary, Devon, was a member of the Devonshire gentry and twice served as Member of Parliament for his family"s pocket borough of Plympton Erle, in 1660 and 1661-1676.
Background
Strode was the eldest son of Sir Richard Strode (d1669) of Newnham, Plympton Street Mary, Devon and Chalmington, Dorset by his second wife Elizabeth Erle, daughter of Thomas Erle of Charborough, Dorset. He was baptised on 18 December 1614.
Career
He entered Middle Temple in 1632. During the Civil War he kept out of the conflict and in 1644 he went abroad. He became Justice of the Peace for Devon in July 1660 and became a commissioner for assessment in August 1660.
He took little part in parliament but on 6 November 1660 he proposed a message of congratulation to the Queen Mother when she returned from France.
He was knighted on 5 December 1660. In 1661 Strode was re-elected Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle for the Cavalier Parliament and sat until his death in 1676.
He was a commissioner for corporations from 1662 to 1663 and was recorder of Plympton Erle from around 1663 until his death. He was a commissioner for recusants for Devon in 1675.
He died at the age of 61 and was buried at Plympton Street Mary.
Membership
Cavalier Parliament]
In April 1660, Strode was elected Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle for the Convention Parliament.