Thomas Canynges
Encyclopedia
Thomas Canynges was Lord Mayor of London
in 1456-7, having been elected Alderman
for Aldgate
ward in 1445, and was a Grocer
.
before 1399 , a member of a wealthy family of merchants and cloth manufacturers in that city. He was the eldest of seven children of John Canynges, who died as a young man in 1405, by his wife Joan Wotton. One of Thomas's younger brothers was the great Bristol merchant William II Canynges(d.1474). Thomas's grandfather William I Canynges(d.1396) was also a great Bristol merchant and was also 5 times Mayor of Bristol and 3 times MP for Bristol
, in 1383, 1384 and 1386. His 2nd son John Canynges, the father of Thomas, was also prominent in Bristol civic life, serving twice as mayor and as MP for Bristol
in 1383. His wife Joan Wotton survived him and married secondly in about 1408 Thomas Young, twice mayor of Bristol, by whom she had two successful sons, John Young, Alderman of London
, Grocer
and Lord Mayor of London in 1466, and Thomas Young(d.1476) a lawyer of the Middle Temple
, Recorder
of Bristol from 1441 and MP for Bristol
almost continuously, with one break in 1453, between 1435 to 1455. Thomas Young before 1450 entered into the household of Richard, Duke of York(d.1460), the Yorkist contender for heirship to the Throne then occupied by Henry VI
(1422-1461).
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...
in 1456-7, having been elected Alderman
Court of Aldermen
The Court of Aldermen is an elected body forming part of the City of London Corporation. The Court of Aldermen is made up of the twenty five Aldermen of the City of London, presided over by the Lord Mayor...
for Aldgate
Aldgate
Aldgate was the eastern most gateway through London Wall leading from the City of London to Whitechapel and the east end of London. Aldgate gives its name to a ward of the City...
ward in 1445, and was a Grocer
Worshipful Company of Grocers
The Worshipful Company of Grocers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London. It is ranked second in the order of precedence of the Companies and, having been established in 1345, is one of the original Great Twelve City Livery Companies....
.
Background
He was born probably at BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
before 1399 , a member of a wealthy family of merchants and cloth manufacturers in that city. He was the eldest of seven children of John Canynges, who died as a young man in 1405, by his wife Joan Wotton. One of Thomas's younger brothers was the great Bristol merchant William II Canynges(d.1474). Thomas's grandfather William I Canynges(d.1396) was also a great Bristol merchant and was also 5 times Mayor of Bristol and 3 times MP for Bristol
Bristol (UK Parliament constituency)
Bristol was a two member constituency, used to elect members to the House of Commons in the Parliaments of England , Great Britain and the United Kingdom . The constituency existed until Bristol was divided into single member constituencies in 1885.-Boundaries:The historic port city of Bristol, is...
, in 1383, 1384 and 1386. His 2nd son John Canynges, the father of Thomas, was also prominent in Bristol civic life, serving twice as mayor and as MP for Bristol
Bristol (UK Parliament constituency)
Bristol was a two member constituency, used to elect members to the House of Commons in the Parliaments of England , Great Britain and the United Kingdom . The constituency existed until Bristol was divided into single member constituencies in 1885.-Boundaries:The historic port city of Bristol, is...
in 1383. His wife Joan Wotton survived him and married secondly in about 1408 Thomas Young, twice mayor of Bristol, by whom she had two successful sons, John Young, Alderman of London
Court of Aldermen
The Court of Aldermen is an elected body forming part of the City of London Corporation. The Court of Aldermen is made up of the twenty five Aldermen of the City of London, presided over by the Lord Mayor...
, Grocer
Worshipful Company of Grocers
The Worshipful Company of Grocers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London. It is ranked second in the order of precedence of the Companies and, having been established in 1345, is one of the original Great Twelve City Livery Companies....
and Lord Mayor of London in 1466, and Thomas Young(d.1476) a lawyer of the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, Recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
of Bristol from 1441 and MP for Bristol
Bristol (UK Parliament constituency)
Bristol was a two member constituency, used to elect members to the House of Commons in the Parliaments of England , Great Britain and the United Kingdom . The constituency existed until Bristol was divided into single member constituencies in 1885.-Boundaries:The historic port city of Bristol, is...
almost continuously, with one break in 1453, between 1435 to 1455. Thomas Young before 1450 entered into the household of Richard, Duke of York(d.1460), the Yorkist contender for heirship to the Throne then occupied by Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
(1422-1461).
Sources
- Pryce, George. Memorials of the Canynges Family and their Times, Bristol, 1854
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004, Vol. 9, pp.970-971
Further reading
- Williams, E.E., The Chantries of William Canynges in St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, with a Survey of Chantries in General and some Events in the Lives of the Canynges Family, 1950