Thomas Lodge (Lord Mayor of London) facts for kids

Sir Thomas Lodge (born around 1509 – died February 28, 1584) was a very important person in London's history. He held the top job as Lord Mayor of London.

Sir Thomas Lodge's Family Background

Thomas Lodge was the son of William Littleton, also known as Lodge. He was born in a place called Cound, Shropshire. His grandfather was Sir William Littleton, a knight who fought in the Battle of Stoke. Sir William was the son of Sir Thomas Littleton, a famous judge who wrote a book called Littleton's Tenures.

Sir William Littleton had a son named John, who was Thomas Lodge's uncle. John married Elizabeth Talbot. Sir William also had another son, William Littleton alias Lodge, who was Thomas Lodge's father. This William lived in Cressage in Shropshire.

Starting His Career and Marriages

Thomas Lodge began learning the grocery trade in London in March 1528. He worked for William Pratt for about ten years. After this, he became a full member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers between 1537 and 1539.

Thomas Lodge first married Mawdleyn, who was the sister of Stephen Vaughan. Thomas traveled a lot for his business. In 1545, he helped Vaughan by watching suspicious people and delivering secret letters to the government. He lived in St Michael, Cornhill in London. Mawdleyn died in 1548 and was buried there.

Thomas Lodge married again to Margaret Parker. She used to be his maidservant. They had two daughters in 1549 and 1551. Margaret also died and was buried in St. Michael's in 1552.

After Margaret died, Thomas Lodge married Anne Luddington. Anne was the widow of a rich grocer named William Lane. Anne was also the stepdaughter of Sir William Laxton, who had been Lord Mayor. Through this marriage, Thomas Lodge became a stepfather to Anne's two sons and two daughters.

Becoming an Alderman and Sheriff

In 1553, Thomas Lodge was one of the important merchants who signed a document about who should be the next queen. After Queen Mary was announced, he became involved in city politics.

He was chosen to be a Sheriff in August 1553. Sheriffs helped the Lord Mayor and kept order in the city. Later, he was elected as an alderman for the Cheap ward. He officially started this role in October 1553.

Lodge became the Master of the Grocers' Company for the first time in 1554. He was very active in foreign trade, especially in Antwerp. He supported new ideas for trading with distant countries. In 1555, he became one of the assistants for the Company of Merchant Adventurers to New Lands (also known as the Muscovy Company). This company explored trade routes to Russia.

In 1559, Lodge became Sheriff again. He also led a group to study how to improve the river Lea for boats and water supply. In 1561, he was the Governor of the Muscovy Company. He also traded with Barbary (North Africa).

The manor of Soulton Hall, which Sir Thomas Lodge sold. This place might have inspired a famous Shakespeare play!

In 1556, Lodge sold some land, including the manors of Hawkstone and Soulton. Some people believe that the Lodge family's connection to Soulton Hall and Sir Rowland Hill (who published the Geneva Bible) might have inspired parts of Shakespeare's play As You Like It. This play was based on a book written by Thomas Lodge's son, also named Thomas.

Serving as Lord Mayor (1562–1563)

Thomas Lodge became the Lord Mayor of London on October 29, 1562. This was a very important position. Henry Machyn, a writer from that time, described his inauguration. Lodge traveled by boat to Westminster with other important people. He took his oath there. Then, he returned to the city, where he was met by many people, including poor men in blue gowns and musicians. There was a big parade and a large dinner at the Guildhall. Lodge was made a knight in 1562.

Trading Voyages to Guinea

The Minion ship, which sailed to Africa.

In 1562, Lodge and other citizens arranged with the Queen for two ships, the Minion and the Primrose, to sail and trade in Africa. It's important to know that this voyage was different from the slave trade started by Sir John Hawkins in the same year. Hawkins's ships captured Africans and sold them as slaves. The Minion and Primrose voyage, however, focused on trading for goods like ivory and spices. They did not mention trading people.

Life in London as Mayor

Sir Thomas Lodge was the first Lord Mayor to wear a beard, which was unusual for the time!

During his time as Mayor, London faced a terrible outbreak of the plague. There was also a story about a man named Skeggs who tried to take food meant for the Mayor's table to give to Queen Elizabeth. Lodge made him return some of the food. Skeggs complained to important people, but Lodge wrote to his friends Lord Robert Dudley and William Cecil to explain what happened.

Lodge also helped bring German miners to England. They helped improve how coins were made, making them more valuable and consistent.

Unfortunately, Lodge's time as Mayor ended with financial problems. He had to declare himself bankrupt. He even spent some time in Fleet Prison because of his debts. However, the Queen and her advisors helped him by giving him money to deal with his urgent needs.

Continuing Business Ventures

Even after his financial difficulties, Lodge continued to invest in trading voyages. In November 1563, two more ships, the Merlin and the John Baptist, sailed to Guinea. These trips were difficult, with problems with the Portuguese and local African people.

Lodge was also involved in another Guinea trip in 1564 with the Minion, Merlin, and John Baptist. This trip happened at the same time as Sir John Hawkins's second slave trading voyage. The Merlin ship was sadly sunk by an explosion.

Lodge had many investments in land and trade. However, he often faced expensive lawsuits and struggled to find enough money. In 1567, he had to leave his position as Alderman and was arrested again until 1570. His friends and business companies tried to help him, as they saw him as a trusted and important trader.

Death and What He Left Behind

Sir Thomas Lodge died on February 28, 1584. He was buried near his wife and her parents in St Mary Aldermary Church. There was a small monument on the ground near the tomb of William Laxton, with an inscription that mentioned the great plague that happened during Lodge's time as Lord Mayor.

Sir Thomas Lodge's Will

Sir Thomas Lodge's will (his last wishes) was written in December 1583. He left money to the poor and asked for sermons to be preached in two churches. His main gifts went to his three sons, Nicholas, Benedick, and Henry, and to his daughter Joan Woodford's family. He did not mention his famous son, Thomas Lodge the poet, in his will.

However, his third wife, Lady Anne Lodge, had made her own will in 1579. In her will, she had planned for her son Thomas (the poet) to receive certain lands. But then, she changed her will, with Sir Thomas's agreement, to give those lands to her son William instead. Instead, Thomas was to receive other properties, which were still controlled by Sir Thomas during his lifetime. This arrangement meant that Sir Thomas didn't need to make a separate provision for Thomas in his own will.

After his father's death, Thomas Lodge (the poet) had many debts. He had to agree not to claim any money from his brother William's inheritance. Later, he tried to sue William, saying he was forced to sign this agreement when he was in need.

His Marriages and Children

Sir Thomas Lodge had three wives and many children.

• His first wife was Mawdleyn Vaughan. She died in 1548 and was buried at St Michael, Cornhill.

• His second wife was Margaret Parker. They had two daughters:

* Sara Lodge (born 1549) married a printer named Edward White. * Susan Lodge (born 1551) married Thomas Leicester. Margaret died in April 1552 and was also buried at St Michael, Cornhill.

• His third wife was Anne Luddington (1523–1579). Anne was the daughter of Henry Luddington. After her father died, her mother married William Laxton, who became Lord Mayor. William Laxton had no children of his own, so he left his property to his wife and her children, including Anne. Anne was also the widow of William Lane.

Thomas Lodge became a stepfather to Anne's children from her first marriage: * Luke Lane * Gabriel Lane * Anne Lane * Elizabeth Lane

Thomas and Anne Lodge had six sons and two daughters together: * William Lodge (born 1554), who married Mary Blagrave. * Thomas Lodge (born and died in 1556), who passed away as a baby. * Nicholas Lodge (born before 1562). * Benedict Lodge (born 1563). * Henry Lodge (born 1566). * Thomas Lodge (1558–1625), who became a famous doctor and writer. * Joan Lodge (born 1555), who married Gamaliel Woodford. They had a son named Thomas Woodford. * Anne Lodge (born between 1558–1562, died 1573).

Dame Anne Lodge died in 1579. A book called Myrror of Modestie was dedicated to her.

Images for kids

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  The manor of Soulton Hall, sold by Lodge to Sir Rowland Hill, publisher of the Geneva Bible, a possible inspiration for setting of Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' via Lodge's son Thomas. The hall building shown narrowly post-dates Lodge's ownership

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  The carrack Minion (from the Anthony Roll)