William Holliday

William Holliday was a wealthy London businessman and chairman of the East India Company.

William was born in Gloucestershire into a family that was associated with Sir Leonard Holliday, one of the founders of East India Company and a Lord Mayor of London. In 1580s he went to London and became an apprentice in the Worshipful Company of Mercers that controlled the city's textile industry. In London he has built a successful career as a mercer even serving as the Master of the Company in 1617.

William also became involved in the East India Company and in 1616 he was elected as a “committee” or a director of Company. In subsequent period he further progressed in the administration and in 1621-1624 he performed the duty of governor of the East India Company.

His business success was accompanied by social prominence. In 1617 William was appointed a sheriff of London, and the next year an alderman of the City. William died in 1624 leaving a substantial inheritance: around £40 000 in cash, and properties in London, Middlesex, and Gloucestershire.