No. 2813
Sir William Harpur
c. 1496-1574Merchant and officialEurope · 1496Most named place: London
William Harpur was a merchant who rose from a humble background to become a highly successful businessman.
Little is known about his early life. Originally from Bedford, Harpur moved to London where he became a member of the Merchant Taylors’ Company in 1533. He played an important role in the city government serving as Sheriff (1556-1557) and Lord Mayor of London (1561). The next year he was knighted by the Queen Elizabeth I.
In 1566 William made an endowment which became the Harpur Trust that survived to the present day.
