No. 3447
Sir William Holles
c. 1471-1542Merchant and officialEurope · 1471Most named place: London
Born as the son of Thomas Holles, yeoman of Stoke in Warwickshire, William Holles began his career as an apprentice to a mercer and eventually amassed a large fortune in trade. He served as warden (1518–19), and master of the Mercers’ company in 1529. As a merchant of the staple and a supplier of fine imported cloth to King Henry VIII, William received a knighthood in 1553. Holles invested part of his fortune in purchase of land mainly in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, but also in Staffordshire, Middlesex and Essex. During his career, he also served as Sheriff (1528) and Lord Mayor of London (1539).
