Stephen Vaughan (merchant) facts for kids

Stephen Vaughan lived a long time ago, from 1502 to 1549. He was an English merchant, which means he bought and sold goods. He also worked for the king as a royal agent and diplomat, helping with important talks between countries. Stephen Vaughan also supported the Protestant Reformation, a big change in how people practiced Christianity.

Stephen Vaughan's Early Life and Work

Stephen Vaughan started his career as a merchant in London. Around 1520, he met Thomas Cromwell, a very powerful person in the king's government. By 1523, Vaughan was working for Cromwell. Cromwell helped Vaughan get a job with Cardinal Wolsey, another important figure, to help with the business of Cardinal College.

Working as a Merchant Adventurer

Even while working for important people, Vaughan was still mainly a merchant. He was a member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers of London. This group of merchants traveled often to Antwerp in the Netherlands to trade goods. Vaughan frequently visited Antwerp for his business.

Becoming the King's Agent

Around 1530, Vaughan became a royal agent, or "king's factor," in the Netherlands. This meant he worked directly for King Henry VIII. His main job was to arrange loans for the king from wealthy bankers called the Fuggers.

Challenges and Important Missions

Stephen Vaughan faced some challenges because of his beliefs. In 1529, a man named John Hutton accused Vaughan of heresy, which meant having religious beliefs that went against the official church. This accusation was made to William Warham, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir Thomas More.

Standing Up for His Beliefs

Luckily, Thomas Cromwell protected Vaughan from these charges. However, Sir Thomas More kept trying to find evidence against him. In 1531, King Henry VIII asked Vaughan to convince William Tyndale to change his "heretical" ideas and return to England. Tyndale was a key figure in the Protestant movement.

Vaughan met with Tyndale several times, but he couldn't convince him. He also sent copies of Tyndale's books to the king. King Henry VIII thought Vaughan was too friendly with Tyndale, even though Cromwell said he wasn't. Vaughan also spoke up for Hugh Latimer, another reformer, in 1532. Vaughan even wrote a protest against the king's treatment of reformers. Despite these difficulties, he managed to stay safe.

Leading the Merchant Adventurers

Around 1534, after John Hutton died, Stephen Vaughan became the new leader of the Merchant Adventurers' Company. He also became the head of the English merchants' trading post in Antwerp, which was called 'the English House.' In 1534, he was given a job as a clerk in chancery and a royal secretarial position, but he continued to live in Antwerp.

Later Life and Diplomatic Roles

In December 1532, Vaughan went on a special trip to Paris and Lyons. The next year, he traveled through Germany with Christopher Mont to report on the political situation. They visited cities like Nuremberg, Cologne, and Saxony before Vaughan returned to Antwerp. While there, he tried to capture William Petow, another person the king wanted.

Working for the Royal Mint

In 1536, Vaughan was in England and helped watch over Eustace Chapuys during a meeting with Catherine of Aragon before she died. Later that summer, back in Antwerp, he tried to save William Tyndale from being executed, but he was unsuccessful. Soon after, Vaughan got a job at the Royal mint, which makes coins. By 1544, he became the under-treasurer of the mint.

More Diplomatic Missions

In 1538, Vaughan went with Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton and Sir Edward Carne to discuss a possible marriage for King Henry VIII with Christina of Denmark. Around the same time, he became the leader of the merchant adventurers in Bergen. In 1541, he went with Carne again to Flanders to try and remove restrictions on English trade.

In 1544, he was given the job of clerk of dispensations and also the priory of St. Mary Spital in Shoreditch. He continued to work as the king's agent in the Netherlands until September 1546. Then he returned to England and focused on his work at the mint. In 1547, he was elected to parliament for Lancaster.

Stephen Vaughan passed away in London on December 25, 1549.

Stephen Vaughan's Family

Stephen Vaughan had a sister named Magdalen, or Mawdlyn. She first married William Pratt, a merchant, who died in 1539. Then she married Thomas Lodge, who later became the Lord Mayor of London. Mawdlyn died in 1548. In 1549, Stephen Vaughan named Thomas Lodge as one of the people to help carry out his will.

Vaughan's Marriages and Children

Stephen Vaughan was married twice. His first wife was Margaret Gwynneth. She was from Caernarfonshire in Wales. Before marrying Vaughan, Margaret was a widow with five children. Her brother, John Gwynneth, was Vaughan's executor, meaning he helped manage Vaughan's will. Margaret died in 1544.

Stephen and Margaret had three children who survived:

• Anne Vaughan: She married Henry Lok and became a poet. They were the parents of another poet, Henry Lok.
• Stephen Vaughan (born 1537): He inherited his father's properties, which included many houses in London.
• Jane Vaughan: She married a member of the Wiseman family.

Vaughan's second wife was Margery, who was the widow of Henry Brinkelow. They married in 1546. Margery had a son from her previous marriage, but she did not have any children with Stephen Vaughan. After Vaughan died, Margery married two more times.