David Barclay

Born in a Scottish Quaker family of landed gentry, David was apprenticed to John Perry in London who was a member of the Draper’s Company. In 1706 he became a freeman, in 1720 a liveryman, and in 1756 finally the Master of the Draper’s Company.

Known as “linen-draper of Cheapside at the White Bear”, Barclay began trading in linens immediately after he became a freeman, and over time, he extended his trade initially in Scottish linens to German and Ireland linens.

Barclay’s linen and merchant house in Cheapside owned a number of ships that traded linen with New York, Pennsylvania, the Chesapeake area and the West Indies. By 1767 when he decided to retire from business, his company was characterized as “the first house in their business…”. His fortune was allegedly worth over £100,000 at the time of his death, and he was regarded as one of the richest merchants in London.

His business was inherited by his sons.