Polydore de Keyser
Encyclopedia
Sir
Polydore de Keyser (13 December 1832 - 14 January 1918), was a lawyer and the first Roman Catholic since the Reformation
to be elected Lord Mayor
of London (October 1887 - November 1888). He was born in the Belgian city of Dendermonde
, near Ghent
, Belgium
.
He came to England
sometime before 1849 and became a naturalized English citizen in 1853. He founded the Royal Hotel, later to be called the De Keyser's Royal Hotel, and personally ran the hotel from 1856 to 1887 He belonged to several different City
companies (the Spectacle Makers, Farriers, Butchers, Innholders, Poulterers, Gold and Silver Wire Drawers) and was a governor of Bridewell, Bethlem and St. Bartholomew's Hospitals. He married the eldest daughter Louise of M.J. Pieron in 1862. De Keyser served as Sheriff of London and Middlesex
1882-83 and was elected alderman
to represent Farringdon Without
on the Court of Common Council.
He was knighted on 4 December 1888. While visiting Brussels
and his home town Dendermonde in 1888 he was honored with the production of two cantatas by the Belgian composer Peter Benoit. (Welkom der Stad Brussel aan den Hoogachtbaren Heer Polydoor De Keyser, Lord-Major van Londen and Heilgroet aan den Hoogachtbaren Heer Polydoor De Keyser, Lord-Major van Londen, in zijn vaderstad Dendermonde).
The De Keyser's Royal Hotel had approximately 400 rooms and was mostly used by foreigners visiting London, including Americans, Dutch, French and Belgians. (De Keyser himself could speak six languages.) It depended almost entirely on this clientele for its success, but were also used for large banquets among City companies. The hotel is known from the case Attorney General v De Keyser's Royal Hotel Ltd
.
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Polydore de Keyser (13 December 1832 - 14 January 1918), was a lawyer and the first Roman Catholic since the Reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
to be elected Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of London (October 1887 - November 1888). He was born in the Belgian city of Dendermonde
Dendermonde
Dendermonde is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Dendermonde proper and the towns of Appels, Baasrode, Grembergen, Mespelare, Oudegem, Schoonaarde, and Sint-Gillis-bij-Dendermonde...
, near Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
He came to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
sometime before 1849 and became a naturalized English citizen in 1853. He founded the Royal Hotel, later to be called the De Keyser's Royal Hotel, and personally ran the hotel from 1856 to 1887 He belonged to several different City
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...
companies (the Spectacle Makers, Farriers, Butchers, Innholders, Poulterers, Gold and Silver Wire Drawers) and was a governor of Bridewell, Bethlem and St. Bartholomew's Hospitals. He married the eldest daughter Louise of M.J. Pieron in 1862. De Keyser served as Sheriff of London and Middlesex
High Sheriff of Middlesex
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Middlesex.-History of the office:From c.1131–1889 there was no separate sheriff for the county. By a charter of Henry I the livery of the City of London were given the right to elect two sheriffs of "London and Middlesex" on a payment of £300 per annum to...
1882-83 and was elected 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...
to represent Farringdon Without
Farringdon Without
Farringdon Without is a Ward in the City of London, England. The Ward covers the western fringes of the City, including the Middle Temple, Inner Temple, Smithfield Market and St Bartholomew's Hospital, as well as the area east of Chancery Lane...
on the Court of Common Council.
He was knighted on 4 December 1888. While visiting Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and his home town Dendermonde in 1888 he was honored with the production of two cantatas by the Belgian composer Peter Benoit. (Welkom der Stad Brussel aan den Hoogachtbaren Heer Polydoor De Keyser, Lord-Major van Londen and Heilgroet aan den Hoogachtbaren Heer Polydoor De Keyser, Lord-Major van Londen, in zijn vaderstad Dendermonde).
The De Keyser's Royal Hotel had approximately 400 rooms and was mostly used by foreigners visiting London, including Americans, Dutch, French and Belgians. (De Keyser himself could speak six languages.) It depended almost entirely on this clientele for its success, but were also used for large banquets among City companies. The hotel is known from the case Attorney General v De Keyser's Royal Hotel Ltd
Attorney General v De Keyser's Royal Hotel Ltd
Attorney-General v De Keyser’s Royal Hotel Limited [1920] AC 75 is a case in English law which is the authority for the statement that the royal prerogative is placed in abeyance when statute law can provide a legal basis for an action....
.