Sir Robert Ducie, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Ducie, 1st Baronet (1575June 1634) was an English merchant who was Lord Mayor of London
in 1631. He was banker to King Charles I
.
Ducie was the eldest surviving son of Henry Ducie, merchant of London and his wife Mary Hardy. He was a city of London merchant and a member of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors
. On 4 December 1620, he was elected an alderman of the City of London for Farringdon Without
ward. He was Sheriff of London from 1620 to 1621. He was a member of the committee of the East India Company
from 1621 to 1630. In 1625 he became alderman for Billingsgate
and in 1627 for Bassishaw
. He became president of St Bartholomew's Hospital
in 1628 and was created a Baronet on 28 November 1629. In 1631, he was elected Lord Mayor of London
. He was on the commmittee of the East India Company again from 1631 to 1633.
Ducie accumulated immense wealth as a merchant, and despite having lost £80,000 when the King was driven from London during the Civil War, he was reputedly worth more than £400,000 at his death.
Ducie married Elizabeth Pyott, daughter of Richard Pyott, Alderman of London, ca. 1608, and they had four sons:
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 1631. He was banker to 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...
.
Ducie was the eldest surviving son of Henry Ducie, merchant of London and his wife Mary Hardy. He was a city of London merchant and a member of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors
Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors
The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London.The Company, originally known as the Guild and Fraternity of St...
. On 4 December 1620, he was elected an alderman of the City of London for Farringdon Without
Farringdon Without
Farringdon Without is a Ward in the City of London, England. The Ward covers the western fringes of the City, including the Middle Temple, Inner Temple, Smithfield Market and St Bartholomew's Hospital, as well as the area east of Chancery Lane...
ward. He was Sheriff of London from 1620 to 1621. He was a member of the committee of the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
from 1621 to 1630. In 1625 he became alderman for Billingsgate
Billingsgate
Billingsgate is a small ward in the south-east of the City of London, lying on the north bank of the River Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge...
and in 1627 for Bassishaw
Bassishaw
Bassishaw is a ward in the City of London. This small ward is bounded on the east by Coleman Street ward, to the south by Cheap ward, to the north by Cripplegate ward, and on the west by Aldersgate ward...
. He became president of St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
in 1628 and was created a Baronet on 28 November 1629. In 1631, he was elected 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...
. He was on the commmittee of the East India Company again from 1631 to 1633.
Ducie accumulated immense wealth as a merchant, and despite having lost £80,000 when the King was driven from London during the Civil War, he was reputedly worth more than £400,000 at his death.
Ducie married Elizabeth Pyott, daughter of Richard Pyott, Alderman of London, ca. 1608, and they had four sons:
- Sir Richard Ducie Bt. d. 1656
- Sir William Ducie Bt.
- Henry Ducie Esq.
- Robert Ducie Esq.