John Hampden

John Hampden was a 17th-century English politician and nobleman known for his stand against royal taxation. In 1637, he challenged King Charles I's authority by refusing to pay ship money, a tax used to fund the navy, which many saw as unlawful. His refusal became a symbol of resistance to royal overreach and contributed to tensions leading to the English Civil War. Hampden's actions helped establish the principle that the king could not impose taxes without Parliament's consent, shaping the development of constitutional government in England.