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Richard Major or Richard Maijor (1605 – 25 April 1660) was a Member of Parliament during the English Commonwealth era.[1]
Major was the son of John Maijor, merchant and MP for Southampton in 1628[2] and nephew of John Searle, MP for Newport, I.o.W in 1614.[3] He matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford in November 1621.[4] On his death the following year, John Searle bequeathed his nephew his mainland property.[3] He graduated BA in 1624.[4] In 1625 he married Ann (d. 1662), daughter of John Kingswell of the manor of Marvel in Carisbrooke, I.o.W.[5]
He bought Hursley Park and Lodge, Hampshire in 1639[6] and served as High Sheriff of Hampshire for 1639–40. His eldest daughter, Dorothy, was married to Cromwell's eldest living son Richard Cromwell, who succeeded Oliver as Lord Protector in 1658.[6]
Major sat for Hampshire in both the Barebones Parliament of 1653 and the First Protectorate Parliament of 1654 and was also appointed to Oliver Cromwell's Council of State.[7]
He died in 1660 and was buried in Hursley Church. Hursley Park passed to Richard Cromwell and his heirs.
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