John Urban

John Urban was an important figure in his home town of Helston, and has attained to a much wider influence in mercantile and diplomatic affairs. Between 1381 and 1411 he was ten times elected as Member of Parliament.

Between 1394 and 1401 Urban was assessed for coinage at Lostwithiel and Truro on the large quantity 60 tons of tin, and although no other clear traces of his mercantile activities have been found his frequent appearances as surety and attorney suggest a man of means with wide business interests. During the 1380s he and another merchant, Thomas Moyle of Lostwithiel, were quick to take advantage of the redistribution of Sir Robert Tresilian’s estates following their forfeiture by judgement of the Merciless Parliament, securing for themselves a seven-year lease at the Exchequer of certain of the former chief justice’s Cornish properties.

Because of his established business connections with Calais and consequently with continental merchants he was chosen by King Henry IV (r. 1399 – 1413) to serve him as diplomat in his policy towards France, Burgundy and Flanders.