John Watts

Watts was an English merchant and ship owner, active in the East India Company and Virginia Company who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1606.

During his early career Watts developed extensive trading interests with Spain, the Canary Islands, and the Azores. With the outbreak of the war with Spain in 1585 he turned to privateering becoming in a short time the most prominent merchant-promoter of privateering in England. He was so successful in this venture that the Spanish ambassador described him as “the greatest pirate that has ever been in this Kingdom”.

As an investor he was involved in several expeditions such as Drake's voyages to Spain and Portugal (1587, 1589), James Lancaster's voyage to Pernambuco (1595), John Chidley's voyage to the South Seas (1589), and to the earl of Cumberland's Caribbean venture (1598). Through his privateering and trading ventures, Watts succeeded to accumulate a considerable fortune.

Despite his privateering interests, he never abandoned trade and was a member of the several companies during his lifetime. He was a founder of the Spanish Company (1577) and of the Somers Island Company (1615), and also a member of the Levant Company in 1592, the East India Company in 1600, and Virginia Company.

Commercial success enabled Watts to become a prominent figure in the city. He was elected mayor of London (1606-1607) and was knighted in 1603.