George Sotherton

Born as son of Nicholas, George belonged to the Sothertons who were among the most substantial families in Norwich. After he completed his apprenticeship, George became a freeman of the Merchant Taylors’ Company, and in the following 50 years, George and his son named George Junior, played an important role in the Company’s affairs.

George made his career relatively quickly. In 1568 he served as Junior liveryman, in 1570 he became a freeman of Norwich as a grocer, and in 1577 he was one of 24 admitted to the newly formed corporation of Spanish merchants. His formal association with the company, which could be traced back to 1582, led to his two terms as an MP for London. That same year, he was named as among “the wisest and best merchants in London to deal in the weightiest causes of the city as occasion is offered”.

Apart from occasional service on commissions appointed by the Privy Council to consider cases of merchants in distress or at variance with authority, his life and activities were divided between the city, the Merchant Adventurers, and the Merchant Taylors.
He died in 1599. Administration of his goods was granted to his son and widow.