John Spencer (Lord Mayor of London) facts for kids

Sir John Spencer (who passed away in 1610) was a very successful English merchant. He also held the important position of lord mayor of London, which is like being the main leader of the city.

Sir John Spencer's Early Life and Business

Sir John Spencer was the son of Richard Spencer from a place called Waldingfield in Suffolk, England. He moved to London and became a merchant, which is someone who buys and sells goods. Because he was so good at business, people nicknamed him "Rich Spencer."

He traded a lot with countries like Spain, Turkey, and Venice. This made him very wealthy. It's even said that Queen Elizabeth I visited him at his home, Canonbury House, in 1581. He had bought this house in 1570.

Becoming a City Leader

Spencer was part of the Clothworkers' Company, which was a group for people who worked with cloth. On August 9, 1587, he was chosen as an alderman for Langbourn ward. An alderman is a senior member of a city council.

He served as a sheriff of London in 1583–1584. A sheriff's job was to help keep law and order in the city. Then, in 1594–1595, he became the lord mayor of London.

Challenges as Lord Mayor

When Spencer was Lord Mayor, there was a time of great food shortage in late 1594. He told the city's companies to fill up their corn (grain) stores at the Bridge House granaries. This was so they could sell the grain to people who needed it.

He also stood up to Admiral Sir John Hawkins, who wanted to use the Bridge House for the navy. Spencer made sure the city kept control of it. Towards the end of his time as mayor, he was knighted, which means he became "Sir John Spencer."

Spencer lived in a grand house called Crosby Place in Bishopsgate Street during his time as mayor. He had bought and fixed up this beautiful mansion. In 1604, he even hosted important visitors there, like the French ambassador and a son of the Prince of Orange from Holland.

Later Years and Legacy

Sir John Spencer was the president of St. Bartholomew's Hospital starting in 1603. He passed away on March 3, 1610, at an old age. His wife, Dame Alice, died shortly after him.

He was buried on March 22, and Dame Alice on April 7, in their church, St Helen, Bishopsgate. A special monument was placed there to remember him. His funeral was very grand because he was so wealthy.

Sir John Spencer owned many properties, including the manors of Brooke Hall, Bower Hall, and Bocking. These were given to him by the Queen in 1599.

Today, in Canonbury, there's a residential area called John Spencer Square. It was created in 1963 and is named after Sir John Spencer. This is because he had a country home in Canonbury in the early 1600s.

Sir John Spencer's Family Life

Sir John Spencer and his wife, Alice Bromfield, had only one child, a daughter named Elizabeth. In 1598, a man named William Compton, 2nd Lord Compton, wanted to marry Elizabeth.

Sir John Spencer really didn't approve of this marriage. However, Lord Compton was powerful at court. He even managed to get Sir John Spencer put in Fleet Prison for a short time in March 1599, because Spencer was supposedly treating his daughter badly.

The story goes that Elizabeth was eventually taken away by her lover, Lord Compton, from Canonbury Tower in a baker's basket! They got married quickly after that, but Sir John Spencer didn't give his daughter any money or property as a wedding gift. Even when she had a baby in May 1601, he still seemed upset.

However, it seems they eventually made up, possibly with the help of Queen Elizabeth I.