Leonard Holliday facts for kids
- Note: dates are given using the New Style calendar.
Quick facts for kids
Sir Leonard Halliday
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| Born | c. 1550 Rodborough, Gloucestershire
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| Died | 9 January 1612 |
| Occupation | Lord Mayor of London |
Sir Leonard Holliday was an important person in London's history. He helped start the famous East India Company. He also served as the Lord Mayor of London. He lived from about 1550 to 1612. His name is sometimes spelled Hollyday or Halliday.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Sir Leonard Holliday was born around 1550. His hometown was Rodborough in Gloucestershire, England. His father, William Halliday, was a clothmaker. His mother was Sarah Brydges.
When he was a teenager, Leonard moved to London. There, he became an apprentice. This meant he learned a trade by working for an experienced craftsman. He joined the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. This group controlled the clothing business in London.
In May 1578, Leonard married Anne Wincoll. She was from Suffolk. They had three children together. Their names were Rowland, John, and Walter.
Business and City Roles
Leonard Holliday was a very active businessman. In 1592, he joined the Levant Company. This company traded with countries in the Middle East. He also helped people in need. In 1594, he gave money to support a widow through his Merchant Taylors Company.
He started working in London's government in 1594. He became an alderman. This was a senior member of the city council. He also served as one of the city's sheriffs from 1595 to 1596.
Founding the East India Company
In September 1599, Leonard Holliday helped create a new company. It was called 'The Governor and Merchants of the City of London Trading to the East Indies'. Today, we know it as the East India Company. This company was officially given permission to trade on December 31, 1600.
Leonard was one of the first directors of the company. He also served as a joint treasurer from 1600 to 1602. He invested a lot of money in the company's first trip to India. This trip made a good profit for investors.
Becoming a Knight
On July 26, 1603, King James I made Leonard Holliday a knight. This meant he was given the title "Sir." He was one of many men knighted by the new king.
Serving as Lord Mayor
Sir Leonard Holliday became the Lord Mayor of London. He held this important job from October 1605 to October 1606. A big celebration called 'The Triumphs of Reunited Britannia' marked his start as mayor.
The Gunpowder Plot
Just a week after he became mayor, a major event happened. On November 5, 1605, the Gunpowder Plot was discovered. This was a plan to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill the king. As Lord Mayor, Sir Leonard had to keep order in the city. He was in charge during the trial and punishment of the plotters.
Hosting Royalty
In August 1606, Sir Leonard hosted two kings. He welcomed King James I of England and his brother-in-law, King Christian IV of Denmark. The Danish king was on a state visit to England.
Moorfields Project
One of Sir Leonard's lasting achievements was improving the Moorfields area. This was a swampy area north of the city wall. Many people criticized his plan. But he had the area drained and paved. He also created gardens and walking paths there. The workers found this job so hard that they called difficult work "Holidaye worke."
Later Years
Sir Leonard continued his work in business and city affairs. He was the Master of the Merchant Taylors Company from 1605 to 1606. He also remained a director of the East India Company. He invested more money in the company's third voyage.
Sir Leonard Holliday passed away on January 9, 1612. He left behind a large amount of wealth. His wife later remarried Sir Henry Montagu in 1613. She died in 1619.
Coat of Arms
In 1605, Sir Leonard received a special design called a coat of arms. This design showed his family's symbols. It had a black shield with three silver helmets. The helmets had gold trim. There was also a silver border around the shield. His crest was the top half of a gold lion holding an anchor.
