William Chester (mayor) facts for kids

Sir William Chester (born around 1509 – died before 1574) was a very important English merchant in the mid-1500s. He was a leader in the wool trade and other businesses. He was the head of the Worshipful Company of Drapers five times. He also served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1560 to 1561. William Chester was also a Member of Parliament for the City of London.

Early Life and Business

Family Background

William Chester was born around 1509. His father, John Chester, was a draper in London. His mother, Joan, later married Sir John Milbourne. Sir John was also a Master of the Drapers' Company and became Lord Mayor of London in 1521. This family connection helped William in his career.

Starting in Business

William studied at Peterhouse College in Cambridge. After college, he became a draper, selling cloth. He also became a "Merchant of the Staple," which meant he traded wool. He joined the Drapers' Company in 1529. He helped the Drapers' Company buy a new building for their headquarters.

In 1544, William Chester was one of the first people to start refining sugar in England. This new business was very successful and made him a lot of money. He also inherited a large fortune from his mother. This money helped him when there were trade problems with other countries.

Helping London

William Chester took on many important jobs in London. He helped to restart and support hospitals like St Thomas' Hospital and Christ's Hospital. He even paid for some of the new brick walls at Christ's Hospital.

In 1552, he became an Alderman of London for the area called Farringdon Ward Without. Aldermen were important leaders in the city government.

Time of Change

Leading the Drapers and Sheriff

In 1553, William Chester became the Master of the Drapers' Company for the first time. From 1554 to 1555, he served as Sheriff of London. During this time, there were religious changes in England under Queen Mary. The Sheriffs had to oversee the punishment of people who disagreed with the Queen's religion.

William Chester was known for being kind to these people. For example, he allowed a man named Dr. Rowland Taylor to say goodbye to his wife. He even offered his own house for her to wait in. This kindness was praised by a famous writer named John Foxe.

Chester also helped a young scholar named Edmund Campion go to St John's College, Oxford.

Trading Far Away

William Chester was a founder of the Muscovy Company in 1555. This company traded with Russia. He owned parts of ships like the Primrose and the John Baptist. These ships sailed to Russia to trade goods.

In 1557, Queen Mary made him a knight, so he became Sir William Chester. This was a special honor. He was knighted because he was a very important merchant in the city of Antwerp. He helped King Philip (Queen Mary's husband) with large sums of money.

Elizabethan Era

Wealth and New Roles

When Queen Elizabeth became queen, Sir William Chester was a very rich man. He lent money to the Crown and received special rights in return. In 1559, he became Master of the Drapers' Company for a third time.

He was also appointed by the Queen to help carry out new laws. These laws were about how people should worship and how to help prisoners. He also helped buy the land for Gresham's Royal Exchange, a famous trading center in London.

Lord Mayor of London

In July 1560, Sir William Chester's first wife, Elizabeth, passed away. She had six sons and eight daughters with him. Her funeral was a very grand event with a large procession. Soon after, he was elected Lord Mayor of London. He took office later that year.

As Lord Mayor, he continued to be involved in important city and national matters. He was part of a group that helped to renew trading rights for English merchants. He also helped investigate people who were making fake money. In 1563, he became a Member of Parliament for London again. He served his fourth term as Master Draper in 1563-64.

More Trading Adventures

Sir William Chester invested in trading trips to Guinea in Africa. These trips were for buying and selling goods. He also continued to be a leader in the Muscovy Company, which traded with Persia (modern-day Iran). Queen Elizabeth herself called him one of her "greatest and best merchants" who traded with the Shah of Persia.

Later Years

In his later years, Sir William Chester moved to a house in Lombard Street. In 1567, the University of Cambridge gave him an honorary Master of Arts degree. He served as Master of the Drapers' Company two more times, making it five full terms in total.

His second wife, Joan, passed away in 1572. Soon after, Sir William Chester retired from business and his role as an alderman. He spent his last years studying classical and religious books at the University of Cambridge.

Sir William Chester passed away before 1574. He was buried in his family vault in St. Edmund's Church in Lombard Street, London.

Family Life

Sir William Chester and his first wife, Elizabeth Lovett, had many children.

• William Chester: Their eldest son, who also became a draper. He married Judith Cave and they had a son named Anthony.
• Thomas Chester: He studied at the University of Oxford. He became a bishop in Ireland in the 1580s.
• John Chester: He also became a draper. He was in charge of his father's estate after Sir William passed away.
• Francisca Chester: She married Robert Tempest, another London merchant.
• Emme Chester: She married John Gardener, who was also involved in the sugar business with Sir William.
• Jane Chester: She married Richard Offley, a successful merchant who traded wool. They had several children.
• Susannah Chester: She married John Trott, a draper. They had two sons and many daughters.
• Frances Chester: She married Francis Robinson, a grocer in London.