Sir Robert Vyner, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir Robert Vyner, 1st Baronet (1631 – 2 September 1688) was an important English banker and goldsmith. He also served as the Lord Mayor of London.
Robert Vyner was born in Warwick in 1631. When he was young, he moved to London. There, he learned the business from his uncle, Sir Thomas Vyner. His uncle was a famous goldsmith-banker, meaning he made and sold valuable items made of gold and silver, and also handled money like a bank. Sir Thomas was also Lord Mayor of the City of London from 1674 to 1675.
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A Busy Life in London
After moving to London, Robert quickly became a partner in his uncle's successful business. He became a very important person in the city.
Rising Through the Ranks
In 1665, Robert was made a knight, and the next year, he became a baronet. This meant he was given a special title by the king. In 1666, he was chosen as an Alderman for the City of London. This was a position of power in the city government.
He was also a sheriff during the year of the Great Fire of London. This huge fire happened in 1666 and destroyed much of the city. In 1674, he was chosen to be the Lord Mayor of London. This was a very high honor.
Working for the King
Sir Robert Vyner was known for his work as a goldsmith. He created special items for King Charles II. For example, he made a copy of the Crown of St. Edward and the King's Orb. These were important items used in the king's coronation ceremony in 1661.
Because of his work, Sir Robert often met with King Charles II and people from the royal court. The king even attended Sir Robert's special banquet when he was Lord Mayor. Sir Robert showed his respect for the king by putting up a statue of him on horseback in London.
Swakeleys House and Vyners School
Sir Robert bought a large house called Swakeleys House in Ickenham, west of London. After the king's banquet, Samuel Pepys, a famous diarist, visited the house. He came to borrow money for the king.
Today, a secondary school in Ickenham is named after Sir Robert. It is called Vyners School. In 1659, Sir Robert also served as High Sheriff of Norfolk.
Financial Challenges
As the king's goldsmith, Sir Robert lent large amounts of money to the government. This money was used for state expenses and the king's court. However, in 1672, the government faced a big problem called the Great Stop of the Exchequer. This meant the government stopped paying back its debts.
The king owed Sir Robert over £400,000, which was a huge sum of money at the time. Because of this, Sir Robert had to make agreements with the people he owed money to. He later received an annual payment of £25,000 from the state.
Later Life
Sir Robert Vyner passed away in Windsor on 2 September 1688.
Images for kids
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Sir Robert Viner and his family, as painted by John Michael Wright.
