Thomas Curtis (lord mayor) facts for kids
Sir Thomas Curtis was an important English politician and a skilled craftsman. He worked with pewter, a type of metal. In 1556, he became the Lord Mayor of London. This was a very important job! He was also made a knight in 1557. He passed away on November 27, 1559.
Early Life and Craft
Thomas Curtis was born around 1502. His father was John Curtis from Enfield, Middlesex. Thomas became one of the most important pewterers of his time. Pewter is a metal alloy, often used for plates, cups, and other household items.
He was a leader in the Worshipful Company of Pewterers. This was a special group, like a guild, for people who worked with pewter. He served as a "warden" in 1524. He was also the "master" of the company several times: in 1538, 1539, 1545, and 1546.
His special mark, called a "touch mark," can be seen on many pewter items. For example, a lot of pewter found on the Mary Rose ship has his mark. The Mary Rose was a famous warship that sank in 1545. His mark is also on about 30% of the pewter found in a shipwreck near Punta Cana. This ship was on its way to the Americas.
Public Service in London
Thomas Curtis started his public career in an interesting way. In 1546, he was chosen to be one of the Sheriffs of the City of London. A sheriff was an important officer who helped keep law and order. However, Thomas did not want this job! He argued against his election right up until the day he had to start.
After his term as sheriff, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for London. This meant he helped make laws for the country. He left Parliament in 1551. Then, he became an "alderman" for the area of Farringdon Within in London. An alderman was a senior member of the city council.
At this time, he was still a member of the Pewterers' Company. But there was a rule that aldermen in London should belong to one of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies. These were the twelve most important guilds in London. Thomas refused to follow this rule. Because of this, he was sent to Newgate Prison and had to pay a fine. After this, he joined the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, which was one of the Great Twelve Companies.
In 1556, he was elected Lord Mayor of London. This was the highest position in the city government. He was only the second pewterer to become Lord Mayor. The other pewterer, John Fryer, also became a fishmonger before becoming mayor.
Death
Sir Thomas Curtis passed away on November 27, 1559. His son had died before him. This meant his granddaughter, Anne, became his heir. She later married a man named Thomas Stukley. Her inheritance helped Stukley start his public life. Thomas Curtis was buried at St Dionis Backchurch on December 6, 1559.
