Sir Richard Ford (c. 1614 – 31 August 1678) was an English merchant and local and national politician. He was the younger son of merchant Thomas Ford of Exeter, Devon and educated at

Exeter College, Oxford Exeter College (in full: The Rector and Scholars of Exeter College in the University of Oxford) is one of the Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth-oldest college of the un ...

and

Gray's Inn The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and Wale ...

. He moved to live in Rotterdam, from where he supplied the Royalist Forces during the

English Civil War The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...

. He was a member of the Merchant Adventurers by 1644, acting as governor from 1660 to 1675. He returned to England in 1652 and was a Commissioner of the

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southea ...

(1658–1663, 1664–1665) and Deputy Governor of the Royal Adventurers in Africa Company (1663). He was knighted in 1660. He was elected MP for

Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...

in 1661 and proved an active member, serving on many committees. He was made an Alderman in London the same year and a Deputy Lieutenant for London a year later, positions he held until his death. He was elected

Sheriff of London Two sheriffs are elected annually for the City of London by the Liverymen of the City livery company, livery companies. Today's sheriffs have only nominal duties, but the historical officeholders had important judicial responsibilities. They have ...

for 1663–64 and

Lord Mayor of London The Lord Mayor of London is the mayor of the City of London and the leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded precedence over all individuals except the sovereign and retains various traditional powe ...

for 1670–71. He served on a number of public Commissions. He was elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

in 1673. After his death in 1678 he was buried at Bexley. He had married Grace and had two sons and three daughters.

References

1610s births 1678 deaths Year of birth uncertain Alumni of Exeter College, Oxford Members of Gray's Inn English MPs 1661–1679 Sheriffs of the City of London 17th-century lord mayors of London Fellows of the Royal Society {{17thC-England-MP-stub