John Kendrick (lord mayor) facts for kids

Sir John Kendrick (died 1661) was an important English merchant and politician. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1652. This was a very powerful position in the city.

Family Life

John Kendrick was the son of Hugh Kendrick from Chester. His mother was Anne Moulson. His family was related to other important people, including the Kendrick baronets and a merchant named John Kendrick.

His mother's father, Sir Thomas Moulson, was also a Lord Mayor of London in 1634. His mother's mother, Ann (Radcliffe) Mowlson, was so famous that Radcliffe College was named after her. John Kendrick had five sisters.

Kendrick married Katherine Evelyn. She was a cousin of the well-known writer John Evelyn. John Evelyn even mentioned Kendrick in his famous diary. He called him "a fanatic Lord Mayor, who had married a relation of ours."

His Career

Kendrick was a member of London's Grocer's Company. This was one of the city's important livery companies, which were like powerful trade groups.

He was chosen as Sheriff of London in 1645. He worked alongside Thomas Foote, who later became mayor. In 1651, John Kendrick was elected as the Lord Mayor of London.

Kendrick was known for being a strong Puritan and a Republican. Puritans were a group of Protestants who wanted to make the Church of England simpler. Republicans supported a government without a king.

In 1648, Parliament chose him as one of the aldermen. An alderman was a senior member of a city council. Their job was to help create a local army to protect London's rights.

During his time as mayor, Kendrick saw William Petre, 4th Baron Petre take the Oath of Abjuration. This oath meant giving up his Catholic faith to get his land back. Kendrick also listened to a sermon by the Puritan preacher Nathaniel Holmes. This sermon happened after a big solar eclipse during Kendrick's time as mayor.

Kendrick also had business dealings with Valentine Greatrakes. Greatrakes was an Irish faith healer. He bought some land that Kendrick owned in Tipperary, Ireland.

Later Years and Death

Sir John Kendrick died in 1661. His old business partner, Valentine Greatrakes, helped Kendrick's family after his death.

Some people who used to own Kendrick's Irish lands wanted them back. This was because of a law called the Act of Settlement 1662. Greatrakes helped Kendrick's children and other family members. He worked to make sure they could keep the land they had inherited.