Sir John Philipot

Sir John Philipot was a native of Kent who made a good marriage bringing with it a manor near Chatham. In London, Philipot became a liveryman of the Grocers Company and it was that key position, combined with the patronage of the king, which made him the richest merchant of his age.

Philipot was on good terms with both Edward III (r. 1327 – 1377) and his successor Richard II (r. 1377 – 1399). The first sold him the receivership of forfeited goods and merchandise at Calais and later licensed him to export wheat to France, and for the latter, Philipot and other merchants wound up lending £10,000 for the war in France, on the security of three crowns and other royal jewellery. He was also made one of the treasurers of the campaign funds.

At his death, Philipot was worth £20,000, about £7.8bn in 2010’s money.