Sir Ralph Warren

Born as the son of a fuller, Warren began his career by joining the Mercers’ Company in 1507. He was also a member of the Merchant Adventurers and Merchants of the Staple. Warren rose rapidly in the hierarchy of the Mercers’ Company, which was one of the wealthiest guilds in London, and became its Master by 1530.

Warren’s broad mercantile transactions were supplemented by the large and lucrative financial dealings with the English Crown. He was able to accumulate a large personal fortune as his early tax demand of £3,000 was a third larger than any other leading merchant. He also possessed landholdings in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

At the time of his death, Warren’s fortune was worth around £25,000 or over £2.9bn. in today’s terms.