Sir John Crosby

John Crosby was a London merchant, diplomat and Member of Parliament.

Born in a family of John Crosby of London, he was apprenticed as a boy to John Young, a member of the Worshipful Company of Grocers and became a wool merchant after 1454. His business grew and in 1462 he was described as “of London, grocer, Merchant of the Staple of Calais”. He imported in England luxury fabrics, such as damask and satin and exported wool on the Italian merchant vessels. Due to his prominence in the trading community, he was elected Master of the Grocers’ Company (1469) and Mayor of the Staple of Calais (around 1470).

His engagement in the public life resulted in his appointment on the post of auditor (1467-1468), alderman (from 1468) and Member of Parliament for the City of London (1466). Crosby was also a diplomat in the embassy sent by King Edward IV to Burgundy (1472) and to Utrecht and Bruges (1473) to negotiate commercial treaties.

Due to his allegiance to the Yorkist during the War of the Roses he was rewarded with a knighthood.