Hugh Hamersley
Encyclopedia
Sir Hugh Hamersley was a 17th century merchant who was Lord Mayor of London
in 1627.
, Oxfordshire
, but he rose to prominence in London as a merchant. From 1601 he was a member of the Haberdasher's Company
. He was a member of the committee of the East India Company from 1606 to 1611 and again from 1614 to 1620. He was a member of the Court of Assistants from 1614 to 1618 and Treasurer from 1618 to 1620.
ward on 16 July 1619. He was Master of the Haberdashers Company from 1619 to 1620 and became president of the Honourable Artillery Company
in 1619, retaining the position until 1633. In 1622 he became alderman for Aldgate
ward until his death. He became Governor of the Russia Company and Governor of the Levant Company in 1623. In 1627 he became Lord Mayor of London
and served another term as Master of the Haberdashers Company. After his term as Mayor he was knighted by King Charles I
on 8 June 1628. He was a member of the committee of the East India Company from 1630 to 1636. He became Colonel Trained Bands of the City in 1631. In 1634 he became president of Christ's Hospital
charitable school.
After Hamerton's death a memorial was erected by his widow in the church of St Andrew Undershaft
, London. He had married in 1597, fathering fifteen children. A portrait of him in mayorial robes was donated to Haberdasher's Hall, London by his great-grandson in 1716. The Ashbourne portrait
is also believed to represent Hamersley, and not, as long thought, William Shakespeare
.
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
in 1627.
Business interests
Hamersley's family estate was at Pyrton Manor near WatlingtonWatlington
Watlington could be*Watlington, Norfolk, England*Watlington, Oxfordshire, England*Whatlington, Sussex, England*Watlington, New Zealand...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, but he rose to prominence in London as a merchant. From 1601 he was a member of the Haberdasher's Company
Worshipful Company of Haberdashers
The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers is one of the senior Livery Companies of the City of London. The organisation, following on from the Mercers' Company, another Livery Company connected with clothing and haberdashery, received a Royal Charter in 1448...
. He was a member of the committee of the East India Company from 1606 to 1611 and again from 1614 to 1620. He was a member of the Court of Assistants from 1614 to 1618 and Treasurer from 1618 to 1620.
Later career
Hamersley was Sheriff of London for the year 1618 to 1619 and was elected an alderman of the City of London for BishopsgateBishopsgate
Bishopsgate is a road and ward in the northeast part of the City of London, extending north from Gracechurch Street to Norton Folgate. It is named after one of the original seven gates in London Wall...
ward on 16 July 1619. He was Master of the Haberdashers Company from 1619 to 1620 and became president of the Honourable Artillery Company
Honourable Artillery Company
The Honourable Artillery Company was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII. Today it is a Registered Charity whose purpose is to attend to the “better defence of the realm"...
in 1619, retaining the position until 1633. In 1622 he became alderman for Aldgate
Aldgate
Aldgate was the eastern most gateway through London Wall leading from the City of London to Whitechapel and the east end of London. Aldgate gives its name to a ward of the City...
ward until his death. He became Governor of the Russia Company and Governor of the Levant Company in 1623. In 1627 he became Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
and served another term as Master of the Haberdashers Company. After his term as Mayor he was knighted by King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
on 8 June 1628. He was a member of the committee of the East India Company from 1630 to 1636. He became Colonel Trained Bands of the City in 1631. In 1634 he became president of Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
charitable school.
After Hamerton's death a memorial was erected by his widow in the church of St Andrew Undershaft
St Andrew Undershaft
St Andrew Undershaft is a Church of England church located at St Mary Axe, in Aldgate ward of the City of London, near the Lloyd's Building. It is a rare example of a City church that has managed to escape both the Great Fire of London in 1666 and the Second World War bombing during the London...
, London. He had married in 1597, fathering fifteen children. A portrait of him in mayorial robes was donated to Haberdasher's Hall, London by his great-grandson in 1716. The Ashbourne portrait
The Ashbourne portrait
The Ashbourne Portrait is one of the numberless portraits that have been falsely identified as portrayals of William Shakespeare. At least 60 such works had been offered for sale to the National Portrait Gallery in the 19th century within the first forty years of its existence; the Ashbourne...
is also believed to represent Hamersley, and not, as long thought, William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
.