No. 2580
William Wyggeston
1467-1536MerchantEurope · 1467Most named place: Calais
William Wyggeston was a wealthy wool merchant, mayor of Leicester and a notable local benefactor.
Although he was already born into an influential family, Wyffeston amassed a private fortune by exporting wool to the Flemish weavers through the port of Calais. Therefore, he was four times elected Mayor of the Staple of Calais, an English trading company that controlled and owned a monopoly on the export of the English raw wool, which was its main commercial product. Due to his prominence and wealth, Wyggeston was elected as Mayor of Leicester on two occasions, in 1499 and 1510.
Since his two marriages have not resulted in any heir, Wyggeston used his fortune for the charitable purposes and became a renowned local benefactor.
