John Lovekyn

John Lovekyn was a merchant and lord mayor of London. He was recorded as at different times as a stockfishmonger, pepperer, and draper. He carried on extensive merchandise in salted or stockfish, corn, wheat, oats, beans, herrings, and sea coal, and traded much abroad. In 1360 he also supplied provisions to the royal army in Normandy.

Lovekyn first lived in the parish of St Mary-at-Hill, and then he moved to the parish of St Michael, Crooked Lane, where his large mansion in Thames Street overlooked the river between Oystergate and Ebbegate by the bridge foot, and the locality became known as Stockfishmongers' Row. In 1434 his mansion became the hall of the Fishmongers' Company.

Lovekyn also carried many civic duties; he was alderman of Bridge ward, became sheriff in 1342, was one of the representatives of the city in parliament in 1344, 1346, 1348, and 1365, and was four times lord mayor, in 1348, 1358, 1365, and 1366. John Lovekyn died on 4 August 1368 and was buried in the choir of St Michael, Crooked Lane, under a handsome tomb, with images of himself and his first wife in alabaster, which was later, however, removed.