John Gresham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir John Gresham
Lord Mayor of London
In office 1547–1547
Preceded by	Henry Huberthorn
Succeeded by	Henry Amcotes
Personal details
Born	1495 Holt, Norfolk, England
Died	23 October 1556
Resting place	St Michael Bassishaw, London, England
Relatives	Richard Gresham (brother)
Occupation	Merchant, courtier, financier
Known for	Founder of Gresham's School

Sir John Gresham (born around 1495 – died 23 October 1556) was an important English merchant, courtier (someone who advises a king or queen), and financier. He worked for powerful figures like King Henry VIII of England, Cardinal Wolsey, and Thomas Cromwell. He became Lord Mayor of London and started Gresham's School. He was the brother of Sir Richard Gresham, who was also a Lord Mayor.

Sir John Gresham's Life and Work

Early Life and Education

John Gresham was likely born in 1495 in Holt, a town in Norfolk, England. His family had lived in Norfolk for a long time. Some historians think he went to a school run by Augustinian canons (a type of religious order) at Beeston Priory nearby. Back then, the church played a big role in education.

Becoming a Merchant

Around 1510, John Gresham began training with John Middleton, a London mercer (a dealer in fine fabrics). After seven years of training, he became a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers. This was a powerful group for merchants. In 1519, both John and his older brother William Gresham joined the company's "livery" (a special group of members). John Gresham later served as the Master of the Mercers' Company four times.

Trading and Royal Connections

John Gresham worked with his brother, Richard Gresham, in a trading business. They exported textiles (like cloth) and imported grain from Germany. They also brought in wine from Bordeaux, silks and spices from the Ottoman Empire, and timber and animal skins from the Baltic Sea area. He was also one of the first members of the Muscovy Company, which was set up to trade with Russia.

At the same time, Gresham worked as an agent for Cardinal Wolsey, a very important church leader. Through Wolsey, he met Thomas Cromwell, another powerful figure in King Henry VIII's government.

Investing in Land

Gresham used his money to buy land. He bought large estates called manors in Titsey, Tatsfield, Westerham, and Lingfield, which are on the borders of Surrey and Kent. He also owned land in Norfolk and Buckinghamshire. From 1534 until he died, he lived in a grand house called Titsey Place in Oxted, Surrey.

Serving the King

Gresham was the Sheriff of London and Middlesex in 1537–1538. During this time, he was also made a knight by the King. He worked for the Royal household from 1527 to 1550. First, he was a "gentleman pensioner," a bodyguard to the King. Later, he became one of the "esquires of the body," a close attendant to King Henry VIII.

In 1539, King Henry VIII gave Gresham the manor of Sanderstead in Surrey. This happened after the dissolution of the monasteries, when the King took over church lands. Sanderstead had belonged to the Minster of Winchester since the year 962.

In 1541, Gresham was one of the jurors who looked into serious accusations against Queen Catherine Howard and others. In 1546, Gresham was one of the King's special helpers. He helped to check the properties of the chantries (places where priests prayed for the dead) that were being closed down in Surrey and Sussex.

Lord Mayor of London

In 1547, Sir John Gresham became the Lord Mayor of London. After his year as Lord Mayor, he continued to serve as an alderman, which is a senior member of the city council.

Founding Gresham's School

In 1555, a year before he died, Sir John Gresham founded Gresham's School in his hometown of Holt, Norfolk. He gave the school land and money to help it run. He put these gifts in the care of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. This company has continued to look after the school's funds and support it to this day.

Death

Sir John Gresham passed away on 23 October 1556 from a "profuse fever." His funeral was described as very grand. He was buried in the City of London church of St Michael Bassishaw, which was later taken down in 1900.

The Gresham Family History

The Gresham family has lived in the Norfolk village of Gresham since at least the 1300s. It is very likely that the manor of Gresham Castle was their original family home.

A John Gresham was born in 1340 and died in 1410, owning land in Aylmerton and Holt. His son, also named John Gresham, was born in 1390 and lived in Holt. His grandson, James Gresham, was the Lord of the Manor of East Beckham from 1442 to 1497. He also built a manor house in Holt. James's son, John Gresham of Holt, married Alice Blyth. They were the parents of the Sir John Gresham we are learning about, who was born around 1495. This shows how the family became established in Holt.

Sir John Gresham had two brothers, William Gresham and Sir Richard Gresham. Sir Richard Gresham was also Lord Mayor of London in 1537. Sir Richard was the father of Sir Thomas Gresham, who founded the Royal Exchange and Gresham College in the City of London.

Sir John Gresham's Family

Marriages and Children

In 1521, Sir John Gresham married Mary Ipswell. They had twelve children between 1522 and 1538.

Some of their notable children include:

• William Gresham (1522–1579), whose grandson was Sir Thomas Gresham (died 1630) of Titsey Place.
• John Gresham (born 1529), who married Elizabeth Dormer. They had three sons.
• Ursula Gresham (1534-1574), who married Thomas Leveson. Their son, William Leveson, was important in the history of the Globe Theatre. He was one of the people who helped manage shares for famous actors like William Shakespeare.

After Mary Ipswell died, Sir John Gresham married Katherine Sampson in 1553. She was the widow of Edward Dormer.

Gresham Family Descendants

Many of Sir John Gresham's twelve children did not have children themselves. However, the main line of his family continued for a long time, until the early 1800s.

Later Greshams became Members of Parliament (people who represent their area in government). The family's estate at Titsey continued to be owned by Sir John Gresham's descendants until 1992. Today, the Titsey Foundation is a charity that works to keep the estate safe for everyone to enjoy.

The family line of Sir John Gresham also continues through his third son, another John Gresham. This branch of the family includes the Greshams of Fulham, Albury, and Haslemere.

Gresham's School

In 1555, just before he died, Sir John Gresham started Gresham's School in his hometown of Holt, Norfolk. He gave money and land to the school. He put these gifts in the care of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. This company has continued to manage the school's funds and support it ever since.

Friends and Connections

Sir Rowland Hill, who helped publish the Geneva Bible, was a close friend of Sir John Gresham. Sir Rowland was given a special black gown to wear at Gresham's funeral and helped carry out his will.

The Gresham Grasshopper Symbol

The Gresham grasshopper

The grasshopper is a special symbol, called a crest, that sits above Sir John Gresham's coat of arms. You can see it at Titsey Place, which was his country home.

The grasshopper is also used by Gresham's School, which he founded. You can even see it as the weathervane on the Royal Exchange in the City of London. This building was started in 1565 by Gresham's nephew, Sir Thomas Gresham. The first Royal Exchange building, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666, had many grasshopper decorations. The grasshopper is also a symbol for Gresham College in London, which Sir Thomas also founded.

There's an old story that the first Gresham family member, Roger de Gresham, was a baby found in tall grass in North Norfolk in the 1200s. A woman found him because a grasshopper drew her attention to the child. While it's a nice story, it's more likely that the grasshopper is a "rebus" (a picture puzzle) for the name Gresham. "Gres" is an old English word for "grass."

In heraldry (the study of coats of arms), the grasshopper is said to represent wisdom and nobility.

The Gresham family's motto is Fiat voluntas tua, which means 'Thy will be done'.