John Fitling

John Fitling was a merchant from Kingston-upon-Hull who comes to notice during the early years of the 1390s when he was trading in commodities as diverse as cloth, wine, wool and skins. By 1398 he had also begun to deal in herring, and had occupied a leading place in the mercantile community of Hull.

Fitling also had a distinguished career in civil offices; he was made bailiff of the town in 1400 and served three terms as mayor in 1408, 1409, and 1422. He attended eleven Parliaments between 1406 and 1431.