SPEAKERS OF THE COMMONS

Shannon News, 18 September 1928, Page 4

SPEAKERS OF THE COMMONS

■AS. new name will be written in gilded letters on the panelling above the bookshelves, in one of the libraries'of Parliament Buildings, at Westminister, novf that Mr. John Henry Whitley, ■\vh"o has been Speaker in the House of Commons since 1921, has retired. This panelling contains a complete listi of speakers. Sir Thomas Hunger-ford,-who was appointed in 1398, when King Henry IV., sou of John of Gaunt, was King, heads the series. Thomas Chaucer, whose father is said to have been the famous poet Geoffrey Chaucer, was Speaker in 1407 and 1414. Sir John Finch, another occupant of the post, was held down in the chair to prevent his obeying instructions given him by King Charles I. to adjourn Parliament.

William Lenthall, who was Speaker in the "Long" Parliament, from 1640 to 1643, has become famous for other reasons. He sturdily refused to tell Charles whether or not any of five members were present in the building when the King attempted to arrest them.