Thomas Egerton (mercer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Egerton was a London merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers
.
He served as Under-Treasurer of the Royal Mint
at the Tower of London
from 1552 to 1555. In this capacity, he and John Godsalve issued the double-faced shilling
s of Philip
and Mary
. However, he was held to have unduly profited from a silver-buying contract and was dismissed in December 1555; he would spend the rest of his life in debt to the Crown.
His family obtained his election as Member of Parliament
for Newcastle-under-Lyme
in 1558, to help him defend himself from his creditors (MPs enjoyed Parliamentary privilege against arrest for debt). However, he was arrested when Parliament was prorogued and committed to the Fleet prison
. With the help of the Speaker, William Cordell
, Egerton obtained his release on bond to pay off his debt.
While he never succeeded in settling his debt in full, Egerton did enjoy commercial success during the remainder of his life. He was Master of the Mercers' Company
in 1587, and was a founder-member of the Russia Company
.
Worshipful Company of Mercers
The Worshipful Company of Mercers is the premier Livery Company of the City of London and ranks first in order of precedence. It is the first of the so-called "Great Twelve City Livery Companies". It was incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1394...
.
He served as Under-Treasurer of the Royal Mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
at the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
from 1552 to 1555. In this capacity, he and John Godsalve issued the double-faced shilling
Shilling (English coin)
The English shilling was a coin of the Kingdom of England, when first introduced known as the testoon. It remained in circulation until it became the British shilling as the result of the Union of England and Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707.There were twenty shillings to the...
s of Philip
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
and Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
. However, he was held to have unduly profited from a silver-buying contract and was dismissed in December 1555; he would spend the rest of his life in debt to the Crown.
His family obtained his election as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme (UK Parliament constituency)
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
in 1558, to help him defend himself from his creditors (MPs enjoyed Parliamentary privilege against arrest for debt). However, he was arrested when Parliament was prorogued and committed to the Fleet prison
Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison was a notorious London prison by the side of the Fleet River in London. The prison was built in 1197 and was in use until 1844. It was demolished in 1846.- History :...
. With the help of the Speaker, William Cordell
William Cordell
Sir William Cordell was Solicitor General and Master of the Rolls during the reign of Queen Mary I and Speaker of the House of Commons during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I....
, Egerton obtained his release on bond to pay off his debt.
While he never succeeded in settling his debt in full, Egerton did enjoy commercial success during the remainder of his life. He was Master of the Mercers' Company
Master of the Mercers' Company
-Richard II of England:-Richard II of England:-Richard II of England::1390 John Lovey:1391 John Organ:1392 John Organ:1393 John Organ:1394 William Parker:1395 Richard Whittington :1396 John Shadworth:1397 John Woodcocke:1398 William Walderne...
in 1587, and was a founder-member of the Russia Company
Muscovy Company
The Muscovy Company , was a trading company chartered in 1555. It was the first major chartered joint stock company, the precursor of the type of business that would soon flourish in England, and became closely associated with such famous names as Henry Hudson and William Baffin...
.