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John Watts (merchant)
Sir John Watts (c. 1554–1616) was an English merchant, Alderman and shipowner. He is also one of the founders of the East India Company, active in the Virginia Company and was Lord Mayor of London in 1606. He is best known for organising joint stock expeditions to the Spanish main which were highly successful during England's long war with Spain.Bicheno p. 314 Life The son of Thomas Watts of Buntingford, Hertfordshire, he was the owner of the ''Margaret'' and ''John'', one of the ships paid by the city of London in 1588 to sail against the Spanish Armada. Watts himself served in her as a volunteer and saw action. In 1590 the same ship was one of a fleet of merchantmen coming home from the Mediterranean, which successfully fought and repelled the Spanish galleys near Cadiz, though Watts was not on board. Career Joint stock expeditions Throughout the war he equipped and financed privateers led by Michael Geare, William Lane and Christopher Newport, the Elizabethan Sea Dogs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law with similar officials existing in the Netherlands (wethouder) and Belgium (schepen). 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 Direct election, popular vote, or a council member elected by voters. Etymology The title is derived from the Old English title of ''ealdorman'', which literally means "elder person", and which was used by the chief nobles presiding over shires. Similar titles exist in other Germanic languages, such as ' in Swedish language, Swedish, ' in Norwegian language, Norwegian, ' in Danish language, Danish and Low German, ' in West Frisian language, West Frisian, ' in Dutch language, Dutch, and ' in German language, German. Finnish language, Finnish also has ', which was borrowed from Swedish. All of these words mean "eld ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Christopher Newport
Christopher Newport ( – ) was an English seaman and privateer. During the war with Spain Newport was one of the most successful ' Elizabethan Sea Dogs' to venture to the Spanish Main, making large profits. Newport is best known as the captain of the '' Susan Constant'', the largest of three ships which carried settlers for the Virginia Company in 1607 on the way to found the settlement at Jamestown in the Virginia Colony, which became the first permanent English settlement in North America. He was also in overall command of the other two ships on that initial voyage, in order of their size, the ''Godspeed'' and the ''Discovery''. He made several voyages of supply between England and Jamestown; in 1609, he became Captain of the Virginia Company's new flagship, '' Sea Venture'', which met a hurricane during the Third Supply mission and was shipwrecked on the archipelago of Bermuda. Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, was named in his honour. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Clothworkers' Company
The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. It was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1528, following the merger of two older guilds: the Fullers (incorporated in 1480) and the Shearmen (incorporated in 1508). As the successor to the Shearmen's Company, it ranks twelfth in the order of precedence among City livery companies. The Clothworkers’ original craft was the finishing of woven woollen cloth. This process included fulling—to mat the fibres and remove grease—drying on tenter frames, raising the nap with fuller's teasel, and shearing the surface to a smooth, even finish. The company's ordinances, first issued in 1532 and signed by Sir Thomas More, were intended to regulate the trade, uphold standards, and protect approved practices. From the late Middle Ages, cloth production gradually shifted away from London, a trend accelerated by the Great Fire of London and the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Philip III Of Spain
Philip III (; 14 April 1578 – 31 March 1621) was King of Spain and King of Portugal, Portugal (where he is known as Philip II of Portugal) during the Iberian Union. His reign lasted from 1598 until his death in 1621. He held dominion over the Spanish Netherlands, Naples, Sicily, Sardinia, and the Duchy of Milan during the same period. A member of the House of Habsburg, Philip III was born in Madrid to King Philip II of Spain and his fourth wife, Anna of Austria (1549–1580), Anna of Austria. The family was heavily Inbreeding, inbred; Philip II and Anna were related both as uncle and niece, as well as cousins. Philip III married his cousin Margaret of Austria, Queen of Spain, Margaret of Austria, the sister of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor. Although known in Spain as Philip the Pious, his political reputation internationally has generally been negative. Historians C. V. Wedgwood, R. Stradling and J. H. Elliott have described him, respectively, as an "undistinguished and insi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James VI And I
James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and King of Ireland, Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until Death and funeral of James VI and I, his death in 1625. Although he long tried to get both countries to adopt a closer political union, the kingdoms of Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland and Kingdom of England, England remained sovereign states, with their own parliaments, judiciaries, and laws, ruled by James in personal union. James was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a great-great-grandson of Henry VII of England, Henry VII, King of England and Lord of Ireland, and thus a potential successor to all three thrones. He acceded to the Scottish throne at the age of thirteen months, after his mother was forced to abdicate in his favour. Although his mother was a Catholic, James was brought up as a Protestant. Four regents gove ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sheriff Of The City Of London
Two Sheriffs of the City of London are elected annually by the members of the City livery companies. Today's Sheriffs have only ceremonial duties, but the historical officeholders held important judicial responsibilities. They have attended the justices at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, since its original role as the court for the City of London, City and Middlesex. The Sheriffs reside at the Old Bailey during their year of service, so that one of them can always be attendant on the judges. In Court No. 1 the Bench (law), bench's Chair, principal chairs are reserved for their and the Lord Mayor's use, with the City of London swords, Sword of the City hanging behind the bench. It is an invariable custom that the Lord Mayor of London must previously have served as Sheriff. To become a Sheriff, one must be lawfully entitled to Coat of arms, armorial bearings by proving their right by descent, whilst those not Armiger, armigerous by birth can apply for a Grant of arms, grant ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thomas Smythe
Sir Thomas Smythe (or Smith, c. 1558 – 4 September 1625) was an English merchant, politician and colonial administrator. He was the first governor of the East India Company and treasurer of the Virginia Company from 1609 to 1620 until enveloped by scandal. Early life He was second surviving son of Thomas Smythe (died 1591), Thomas "Customer" Smythe of Westenhanger Castle in Kent, by his wife Alice, daughter of Sir Andrew Judde. His grandfather, John Smythe of Corsham, Wiltshire, was described as yeoman, haberdasher and clothier, and was High Sheriff of Essex for the year of 1532. His father was also a haberdasher, and was customer (tax collector), customer of the port of London. He purchased Westenhanger Castle, Westenhanger from Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset, Sir Thomas Sackville, and other property from Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Thomas Smythe's elder son, Sir John Smythe or Smith (1556?–1608) of Westenhanger, was High Sheriff of Kent in 1600, and father of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl Of Essex
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (; 10 November 1565 – 25 February 1601) was an English nobleman and a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during the Nine Years' War in 1599. In 1601, he led an abortive ''coup d'état'' against the government of Elizabeth I and was executed for treason. Early life Robert Devereux was born on 10 November 1565 at Netherwood in Herefordshire, the eldest son of Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, and his wife Lettice Knollys., 1st paragraph. From birth, the young Robert Devereux had a strong association with Queen Elizabeth I. Lettice was a close friend of Elizabeth and served as her Maid of the Privy Chamber. Robert Devereux was presumably named after his godfather Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who was the queen's favourite for many years. Additionally, Devereux's maternal great-grandmother Mary Boleyn was a sister of Anne Boleyn (Elizabeth I's mo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Taffeta
Taffeta (archaically spelled taffety or taffata) is a crisp, smooth, plain woven fabric made from silk, nylon, cuprammonium rayons, acetate, or polyester. The word came into Middle English via Old French and Old Italian, which borrowed the Persian word ''tāfta'' (تافته), which means "silk" or "linen cloth". As clothing, it is used in ball gowns, wedding dresses, and corsets, and in interior decoration, for curtains or wallcovering. It tends to yield a stiff cloth with a starched appearance that holds its shape better than many other fabrics and does not sag or drape. Silk taffeta is of two types: yarn-dyed and piece-dyed. Piece-dyed taffeta is often used in linings and is quite soft. Yarn-dyed taffeta is much stiffer and is often used in evening dresses. Shot silk taffeta was one of the most highly-sought forms of Byzantine silk, and may have been the fabric known as ''purpura''. Production Modern taffeta was first woven in Italy and France and until the 1950s in Japan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Plymouth
Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and southwest of London. It is the most populous city in Devon. Plymouth's history extends back to the Bronze Age, evolving from a trading post at Mount Batten into the thriving market town of Sutton, which was formally re-named as Plymouth in 1439 when it was made a borough status in the United Kingdom, borough. The settlement has played a significant role in English history, notably in 1588 when an English fleet based here defeated the Spanish Armada, and in 1620 as the departure point for the Pilgrim Fathers to the New World. During the English Civil War, the town was held by the Roundhead, Parliamentarians and was besieged between 1642 and 1646. In 1690 a dockyard was established on the River Tamar for the Royal Navy and Plymouth grew as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Capture Of Recife (1595)
The Capture of Recife also known as James Lancaster's 1595 Expedition or Lancaster's Pernambucan expedition was an English military expedition during the Anglo–Spanish War in which the primary objective was the capture of the town and port of Recife in the Captaincy of Pernambuco in the Portuguese colony of Brazil (then within the Iberian Union with Spain) in April 1595. An English expedition of ships led by James Lancaster sailed via the Atlantic capturing numerous prizes before he captured Recife. He held the place for nearly a month and then proceeded to defeat a number of Portuguese counterattacks before leaving. The booty captured was substantial, Lancaster chartered Dutch and French ships that were also present there thus making the expedition a military and financial success.Foster pg 35-54 Background By virtue of the Iberian Union, the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 was in abeyance, and as the Anglo–Spanish War was still ongoing, attacks on Portuguese shipping and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Lancaster
Sir James Lancaster (c. 1554 – 6 June 1618) was an English privateer and trader of the Elizabethan era. Life and work Lancaster came from Basingstoke in Hampshire. Lancaster was brought up in Portugal as a merchant and soldier, but returned to England in 1587. He thereafter became a trusted employee of the London merchant Thomas Cordell, commanding his merchant ship ‘Edward Bonaventure’ in the fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588, serving under Sir Francis Drake. East India activities On 10 April 1591 Lancaster started from Torbay in Devon, with George Raymond and Samuel Foxcroft, on his major voyage to the East Indies; this fleet of three ships (''Penelope'', ''Marchant Royal'' and ''Edward Bonaventure'') was the earliest of the English overseas Indian expeditions. They reached Table Bay on 1 August 1591. Losing one ship off Cape Correntes on 12 September, the squadron rested and refitted at Zanzibar (February 1592), rounded Cape Comorin the following May, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
