Richard Wyche (merchant)
Encyclopedia
Richard Wyche (1554–1621) was a London
shipowner and merchant. He was on the first Committee of Directors of the English East India Company, assisted in the formation of the North West Company
in 1612, and was among the adventurers of the Muscovy Company
. He died on 20 November 1621 and was buried at St. Dunstan's in the East. Wiche Islands or Wiche's Land (discovered and named in 1617, and now erroneously called Kong Karls Land
), Wichebukta (on the east coast of Spitsbergen
), Wichefjellet (also on the Spitsbergen’s east coast), and Wiche Sound (named and discovered in 1614 and now called Liefdefjorden
and Woodfjorden) were named after him.
A descendant of a former Lord Mayor of London in the fifteenth century, Richard Wyche, Gentleman and Mercer, married well, Elizabeth Saltonstall, daughter of Sir Richard Saltonstall, Member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of London
. Elizabeth's first cousin was another Sir Richard Saltonstall
, who in 1630 established a North American colony in Massachusetts. This couple had many sons; the Honorable Nathaniel Wyche lived in India and was President of the East India Company in the late 1650s. Another son was the Right Honorable Sir Peter Wyche
, Ambassador to Constantinople (Ottoman Empire), who married Jane Meredith. Their children included (the second) Sir Peter Wyche, Sir Cyril Wyche
, and Lady Jane Wyche, who married John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath
. Rt. Hon. Sir Peter Wyche was one of the Chancellors of Oxford University, and his sons Sir Cyril and Sir Peter were among the founding members of the British Royal Society
. Jane Wyche Granville was Countess of Bath and Lady of the Bedchamber
to Henrietta Maria of France
, Queen Consort
of King Charles I of England
.
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...
shipowner and merchant. He was on the first Committee of Directors of the English East India Company, assisted in the formation of the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
in 1612, and was among the adventurers of the Muscovy 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...
. He died on 20 November 1621 and was buried at St. Dunstan's in the East. Wiche Islands or Wiche's Land (discovered and named in 1617, and now erroneously called Kong Karls Land
Kong Karls Land
Kong Karls Land or King Charles Land is an island group in the Svalbard archipelago, in Arctic Ocean. The island group covers an area of and is made up of the islands of Kongsøya, Svenskøya, Abeløya, Helgolandøya and Tirpitzøya....
), Wichebukta (on the east coast of Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen
Spitsbergen is the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. Constituting the western-most bulk of the archipelago, it borders the Arctic Ocean, the Norwegian Sea and the Greenland Sea...
), Wichefjellet (also on the Spitsbergen’s east coast), and Wiche Sound (named and discovered in 1614 and now called Liefdefjorden
Liefdefjorden
Liefdefjorden is a fjord in Haakon VII Land on Spitsbergen, Svalbard. It has a length of about . Former names of the fjord include Baye d'Amour, Kjærlighedsbugten, Porto detto l'Amato, Liefde Bay and Love Bay. The glacier Monacobreen debouches into the fjord....
and Woodfjorden) were named after him.
A descendant of a former Lord Mayor of London in the fifteenth century, Richard Wyche, Gentleman and Mercer, married well, Elizabeth Saltonstall, daughter of Sir Richard Saltonstall, Member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of London
Lord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
. Elizabeth's first cousin was another Sir Richard Saltonstall
Richard Saltonstall
Sir Richard Saltonstall led a group of English settlers up the Charles River to settle in what is now Watertown, Massachusetts in 1630....
, who in 1630 established a North American colony in Massachusetts. This couple had many sons; the Honorable Nathaniel Wyche lived in India and was President of the East India Company in the late 1650s. Another son was the Right Honorable Sir Peter Wyche
Peter Wyche
Peter Wyche is the name of:* Sir Peter Wyche , English merchant and ambassador to the Ottoman Empire* Sir Peter Wyche , English diplomat and translator...
, Ambassador to Constantinople (Ottoman Empire), who married Jane Meredith. Their children included (the second) Sir Peter Wyche, Sir Cyril Wyche
Cyril Wyche
Sir Cyril Wyche FRS was an English lawyer and politician.He was born in Constantinople, Turkey, where his father, Sir Peter Wyche, was the English Ambassador. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford with Bachelor of Arts in 1653. He received his Master of Arts in 1655 and his Doctor of Civil...
, and Lady Jane Wyche, who married John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath
John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath
John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath PC was an English royalist statesman, whose highest position was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland....
. Rt. Hon. Sir Peter Wyche was one of the Chancellors of Oxford University, and his sons Sir Cyril and Sir Peter were among the founding members of the British Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
. Jane Wyche Granville was Countess of Bath and Lady of the Bedchamber
Lady of the Bedchamber
This is an incomplete list of those who have served as Lady of the Bedchamber in the British Royal Household...
to Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
, Queen Consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of King Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
.