Difference between revisions of "John Gayer 1584-1649"

Revision as of 07:19, 6 August 2020

Sir John GAYER 1584-1649

Armorial stamp of Sir John Gayer (British Armorial Bindings)

Biographical Note

Born at Plymouth, son of John Gayer, merchant. After apprenticeship to a London merchant he became established himself in the Levant and East India trades. He served on the governing bodies of the Levant and East India Companies, became an alderman of the City of London (sheriff 1635-6), and was prime warden of the Fishmongers' Company in 1638. He was a candidate for the mayoralty in 1640 and was knighted by Charles I the following year. Although identified at that time more as a parliamentarian than a royalist, his sympathies changed and when he became Lord Mayor in 1646 he was implicated in the insurgence against parliament and the army in summer 1647, when parliament was invaded and Independent officers purged from the London militia. Gayer was sent to the Tower, replaced as Lord Mayor, threatened with impeachment, but released in 1648; the following year, on the establishment of the Commonwealth, he was formally deprived as an alderman, and he died shortly afterwards.

Books

Gayer's will reveals substantial wealth and is largely concerned with the disposition of money, plate and property; he made charitable bequests to Plymouth, and divided the residue of his estate amongst his children. There is no mention of books. His inclusion in this listing is based on the survival of two armorial bindings with the Gayer arms, which appear to be his. Examples: National Art Library CLE F30.

Characteristic Markings

The book in the NAL, a collection of 1640s tracts by Sir Henry Spelman on tithes and the treatment of churches, has no annotations or inscriptions.

Sources

British Armorial Bindings.
Ashton, Robert. "Gayer, Sir John (bap. 1584, d. 1649), merchant." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

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 [[File:GayerJohnSir1.jpg| thumb | Armorial stamp of Sir John Gayer (British Armorial Bindings) ]]
 ====Biographical Note====
-Born at [[place of birth::Plymouth]], son of [[family::John Gayer]], [[occupation::merchant]].  After [[apprentice::apprenticeship]] to a [[location::London]] [[occupation::merchant]] he became established himself in [[location::the Levant]] and [[location::East India]] trades.  He served on the governing bodies of [[location::the Levant]] and [[location::East India Companies]], became an [[occupation::alderman]] of the [[location::City of London]] ([[occupation::sheriff]] 1635-6), and was [[occupation::prime warden]] of [[organisations::the Fishmongers' Company]] in 1638.  He was a candidate for the mayoralty in 1640 and was knighted by [[associates::Charles I]] the following year.  Although identified at that time more as a parliamentarian than a royalist, his sympathies changed and when he became [[occupation::Lord Mayor]] in 1646 he was implicated in the insurgence against parliament and the army in summer 1647, when parliament was invaded and Independent officers purged from the [[location::London]] militia.  Gayer was sent to the [[organisations::Tower of London|Tower]], replaced as [[occupation::Lord Mayor]], threatened with impeachment, but released in 1648; the following year, on the establishment of the Commonwealth, he was formally deprived as an [[occupation::alderman]], and he died shortly afterwards.
+Born at [[place of birth::Plymouth]], son of [[family::John Gayer]], [[occupation::merchant]].  After [[apprentice::apprenticeship]] to a [[location::London]] [[occupation::merchant]] he became established himself in [[location::the Levant]] and [[location::East India]] trades.  He served on the governing bodies of [[location::the Levant]] and [[location::East India Companies]], became an [[occupation::alderman]] of the [[location::City of London]] ([[occupation::sheriff]] 1635-6), and was [[occupation::prime warden]] of the [[organisations::Fishmongers' Company]] in 1638.  He was a candidate for the mayoralty in 1640 and was knighted by [[associates::Charles I]] the following year.  Although identified at that time more as a parliamentarian than a royalist, his sympathies changed and when he became [[occupation::Lord Mayor]] in 1646 he was implicated in the insurgence against parliament and the army in summer 1647, when parliament was invaded and Independent officers purged from the [[location::London]] militia.  Gayer was sent to the [[organisations::Tower of London|Tower]], replaced as [[occupation::Lord Mayor]], threatened with impeachment, but released in 1648; the following year, on the establishment of the Commonwealth, he was formally deprived as an [[occupation::alderman]], and he died shortly afterwards.
 ====Books====