William Cockayne facts for kids

Sir William Cockayne (1561 – 20 October 1626) was an important English merchant and politician in the 1600s. He held several key positions, including alderman and Lord Mayor of the City of London. He was known for his business ideas and his connections with King James I.

Early Life and Career

William Cockayne was born in 1561. His father was also a merchant in London. William followed in his father's footsteps, learning the family business. In 1590, he became a member of the Skinners' Company, which was a group for merchants dealing with furs and leather. After his father passed away in 1599, William took over the family business.

He became a very active person in London's government. In 1609, he served as a sheriff of London. Sheriffs were important officials who helped keep law and order. He also served as an alderman in different parts of London from 1609 until his death. An alderman was a senior member of the city council.

Governor of Londonderry

In 1613, William Cockayne became the first Governor of The Honourable The Irish Society. This group was in charge of rebuilding and growing the city of Derry in Ireland. Because of their work, the city was renamed Londonderry. This name honored London, where many of the people helping with the project came from. King James I recognized Cockayne's efforts and made him a knight in 1616.

Lord Mayor of London

William Cockayne became the Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1619. This was a very important role, like being the mayor of a huge city today. During his time as mayor, King James I visited Old St Paul's Cathedral. Cockayne welcomed the King with a grand ceremony. A special play called "The Triumphs of Love and Antiquity" was performed for his inauguration.

He was very close to King James I. The King often asked for his advice on important matters. In 1620, Cockayne's daughter Mary married Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham, a powerful nobleman.

The Cockayne Project

One of William Cockayne's most famous ideas was called "The Cockayne Project." In 1614, he suggested a new plan for England's main export: cloth. At that time, English cloth was usually sent to other countries, like the Netherlands, to be dyed and finished. Cockayne believed England should do this work itself.

He convinced King James I to give him a special right, called a monopoly. This meant only Cockayne's company could export finished cloth. The idea was to make more money for English merchants and for the King. However, the plan did not work well. The Dutch merchants refused to buy the finished English cloth. This led to a "trade war," and the English cloth trade suffered for many years.

Later Years and Legacy

William Cockayne supported explorers like William Baffin. Baffin was an English explorer who searched for a passage to Asia through the Arctic. A harbor in Greenland was even named "Cockin's Sound" in his honor.

Cockayne became very wealthy. He bought large estates in different parts of England. He was also very generous to his daughters, giving each of them a large sum of money when they married. He left his son a huge amount of money each year.

Sir William Cockayne passed away on October 20, 1626, at the age of 65. He was buried in Old St Paul's Cathedral in London. Sadly, his grave and monument were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Today, his name is listed on a modern monument in the cathedral that remembers important people buried there.

Family Life

William Cockayne married Mary Morris on June 22, 1596. They had seven children together:

• Charles Cockayne, 1st Viscount Cullen
• Anne Cockayne, who married Sir Hatton Fermor
• Martha Cockayne, who married two important noblemen
• Jane Cockayne, who married Hon. James Sheffield
• Elizabeth Cockayne, who married Thomas Fanshawe, 1st Viscount Fanshawe
• Abigail Cockayne, who married John Carey, 2nd Earl of Dover
• Mary Cockayne, who married Charles Howard, 2nd Earl of Nottingham

After William died, his wife Mary remarried in 1630 to Henry Carey, 4th Baron Hunsdon, 1st Earl of Dover. She passed away in 1648 and was buried next to Sir William at St. Paul's.

Sources

• List of Lord Mayors of London
• Astrid Friis. Alderman Cockayne's Project and the Cloth Trade. London: Milford, 1927.
• J P Sommerville's 'The Rule of the Howards'
• Joel D. Benson. Changes and Expansion in the English Cloth Trade in the Seventeenth Century: Alderman Cockayne's Project. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 2002.