William Bolton (Lord Mayor) facts for kids

Sir William Bolton (died 1680) was an English merchant who held an important position as Lord Mayor of London in 1666. He was a key figure in the city during a time of great change.

Who Was Sir William Bolton?

Sir William Bolton was a successful merchant in London. He was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors. This was a very old and respected group for people who worked with cloth and clothing.

Early Career and Roles

In 1659, Bolton was chosen as an alderman for the City of London. An alderman was a senior member of the city council. He represented the Castle Baynard area. In the same year, he became the leader, or Master, of the Merchant Taylors Company. He also held a military role as a colonel in the Blue Regiment.

From 1660 to 1661, Sir William served as one of the Sheriffs of London. Sheriffs were important officials who helped keep law and order. He was given the title of 'Sir' when he was knighted on October 11, 1663.

Becoming Lord Mayor

In 1666, Sir William Bolton was elected the 331st Lord Mayor of London. This was a very high honor. The Lord Mayor is the head of the City of London Corporation. This role is like being the mayor of a very old and special part of London.

However, his time as Lord Mayor faced a big challenge. The Great Fire of London happened in 1666. This huge fire destroyed much of the city. Money was collected to help the people who lost their homes and belongings. Sir William had trouble explaining where some of this money went.

Challenges and Later Life

Because of the issues with the money collected for fire victims, Sir William Bolton had to step down from his role. He was no longer able to attend meetings with the other aldermen. He eventually had to leave his important position.

Later in his life, Sir William faced financial difficulties. On March 19, 1677, the city council decided to help him. They voted to give him a small payment each week to support him.