John Hadley

John Hadley rose from relatively humble beginnings in the Suffolk village of Hadleigh to occupy a prominent position in both civic and national affairs. His rise to prominence began in 1368 when he started trading as a grocer in London.

Like most grocers he dealt in many different commodities, often imported from overseas. There is not much data on Hadley’s business but it is known that in 1370 ships laded by Hadley and a consortium of London merchants at Sluys had been plundered after a storm off the Calais coast. Also, in August 1377, he successfully petitioned for permission to ship goods bought in Flanders to London via the port of Sandwich. Hadley also figures prominently as a royal creditor: on 1 Feb. 1371 he lent 40 marks to Edward III; and he was also among the leading contributors to other royal loans of £3,000 in December 1374 and of £10,000 in September 1377.

Hadley invested a considerable proportion of his income from trade in property both in and out of London. By the time of his death, he was in possession of at least nine tenements and the same number of shops in five London parishes. He also owned estates in Essex, Surrey and Middlesex, as well as other, more scattered purchases.

Hadley had a long and distinguished civic career serving in a number of offices. He was twice mayor of London, in 1379 and 1393, and between 1369 and 1402 he was a Member of Parliament for eleven times. He was also warden of the Grocers’ Company in 1383, mayor of the Staple of Westminster, and mayor of the Staple of Calais.