John Lemon


John Lemon was a British Whig Member of Parliament.
He was born in Truro, the second son of William Lemon by his marriage to Anne, the daughter of John Willyams of Carnanton House, and was the grandson of William Lemon the Elder, who had acquired a substantial estate at Carclew in 1749, and the younger brother of Sir William Lemon, 1st Baronet.
The young John Lemon was educated at Truro Grammar School and later at Harrow. He became a lieutenant colonel in the Horse Guards.

Political career

In 1784 he was elected to the House of Commons for West Looe, a seat he held only briefly. He returned to the Commons as a member for Saltash between 1787 and 1790. In 1796 he was able to buy from Viscount Falmouth a life interest in one of the seats at the pocket borough of Truro and was duly elected for Truro that year, holding the seat until his death in 1814.
On 17 January 1804 Lemon was appointed as one of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, serving for only a month. According to convention, this meant he had to give up his Parliamentary seat on appointment to the Crown Office and seek re-election to his seat at a by-election in February, at which he was re-elected.

Amateur musician and composer

Lemon was an amateur musician and composer. The Cathedral Psalter Chants included his Double Chant in G, while there is also a Chant in D. A Double Chant in F is in The Parish Psalter with Chants.
He died unmarried in Polvellen, Cornwall.