Sir William Joynier was a rich 13th-century

merchant A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...

and

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

who served as

Mayor of London The mayor of London is the chief executive of the Greater London Authority. The role was created in 2000 after the 1998 Greater London Authority referendum, Greater London devolution referendum in 1998, and was the first Directly elected may ...

from 1239 to 1240.

Biography

In 1204 Joynier was instructed to investigate the condition of

Newgate Prison Newgate Prison was a prison at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey Street just inside the City of London, England, originally at the site of Newgate, a gate in the Roman London Wall. Built in the 12th century and demolished in 1904, t ...

and

Holborn Bridge Holborn Viaduct is a road bridge in London and the name of the street which crosses it (which forms part of the A40 route). It links Holborn, via Holborn Circus, with Newgate Street, in the City of London financial district, passing over ...

and authorise repairs. He was able to make loans to Henry III from a young age. From 1219 Joynier supplied the royal household with luxury goods and built an extensive trading network that extended from Scotland and Ireland to

Poitou Poitou (, , ; ; Poitevin: ''Poetou'') was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers. Both Poitou and Poitiers are named after the Pictones Gallic tribe. Geography The main historical cities are Poitiers (historical c ...

. Joynier was made

in 1223. He was subsequently elected to serve as

between 1239 and 1240. Joynier's relationship with the monarch was not always an easy one. The fine rolls of Henry III for 1224 contain an order for Joynier's arrest in order to recover possessions given to Joynier by the disgraced Falkes de Breauté. Joynier had a more serious conflict with Henry in 1239 when, whilst serving as Mayor, he defended the city's privileges and refused to admit Simon FitzMary, appointed by the king without election. However, these incidents did not deter Joynier's trade with the royal household or relationship with the court. Joynier supplied wine to the king in 1241 and was appointed as one of the custodians of the royal treasure in the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separa ...

in 1242. Apart from banking and trade, Joynier also had income from estates in Middlesex and Cambridgeshire. He also had a number of tenements in the city in

Cheapside Cheapside is a street in the City of London, the historic and modern financial centre of London, which forms part of the A40 London to Fishguard road. It links St. Martin's Le Grand with Poultry. Near its eastern end at Bank junction, where ...

All Hallows Honey Lane All Hallows, Honey Lane was a parish church in the City of London, England. Of medieval origin, it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and not rebuilt; the site became part of Honey Lane Market, which was in turn partially cleared t ...

and

St. Mary Magdalen, Milk Street St Mary Magdalen, Milk Street, was a parish church in the City of London, England, dedicated to Jesus' companion Mary Magdalene. Originally constructed in the 12th century, it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and not rebuilt. T ...

Joynier used some of his wealth to pay for the entire construction of the Greyfriars chapel and contributed two hundred pounds towards construction of other monastic buildings on the site in Saint Nicholas in the Shambles. Joynier's support for the Friars spanned the latter two decades of his life. Joynier died in about 1248.

References

13th-century mayors of London Sheriffs of the City of London Date of birth unknown 1240s deaths Year of death uncertain Year of birth unknown {{Lord-Mayor-of-London-stub