Peter Du Cane, the elder
Encyclopedia
Peter Du Cane (March 17, 1645 – September 16, 1714), a descendent of Jean Du Quesne, the elder and son of Pierre du Quesne and Jeanne Maurois, was a third generation English-born descendant in a family of prominent and noble Huguenot
refugee
s who escaped from Flanders
and originally settled in Canterbury
in the reign of Elizabeth I
, following the persecution
s carried on in the low countries under the Duke of Alba. The second generation of the family settled in London and acquired citizenship (see Jean Du Quesne, the younger). Peter Du Cane became an Alderman
of the City of London
(1666) and an elder of the French Protestant Church
in Threadneedle Street
.
On January 6, 1675, Du Cane married Jane Booth, daughter of Richard Booth, grocer and Alderman of London
. Their son and only child, Richard Du Cane
M.P., was a leading British politician and businessmen of the latter 17th century, playing a founding role, together with the Houblon family, in the founding of the Bank of England
and the East India Company
.
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s who escaped from Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and originally settled in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
in the reign of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, following the persecution
Persecution
Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another group. The most common forms are religious persecution, ethnic persecution, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. The inflicting of suffering, harassment, isolation,...
s carried on in the low countries under the Duke of Alba. The second generation of the family settled in London and acquired citizenship (see Jean Du Quesne, the younger). Peter Du Cane became an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
(1666) and an elder of the French Protestant Church
French Protestant Church of London
The French Protestant Church of London is a Huguenot Protestant church in Soho Square, London. It is a registered charity under English law....
in Threadneedle Street
Threadneedle Street
Threadneedle Street is a street in the City of London, leading from a junction with Poultry, Cornhill, King William Street and Lombard Street, to Bishopsgate....
.
On January 6, 1675, Du Cane married Jane Booth, daughter of Richard Booth, grocer and Alderman of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Their son and only child, Richard Du Cane
Richard Du Cane
Richard Du Cane, M.P. was the Member of Parliament for Colchester from 1715 to 1722. Du Cane was from a leading Essex family of merchants and politicians having distinguished Huguenot descent. The son of Peter Du Cane, the elder and Jane Booth, he married Anne Lyde, daughter of Nehemiah Lyde and...
M.P., was a leading British politician and businessmen of the latter 17th century, playing a founding role, together with the Houblon family, in the founding of the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
and the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
.