Thomas White (merchant)

Sir Thomas White (1492–12 February 1567) was an English cloth merchant, civic leader and founder of St John's College, Oxford.

 Career 

Thomas White was born in Reading, Berkshire. He was the son of William White, a clothier of Reading, and his wife, Mary, daughter of Henry Kibblewhite. At age 12 he became an apprentice to a London merchant.Charles Mathew Clode, Memorials of the Guild of Merchant Taylors of the Fraternity of St. John the Baptist (London: Harrison and Sons, 1875), p. 456 In time he became a prosperous clothier. In 1546 he served as sheriff of London. In 1553 he was Lord Mayor of London. Thomas White became Sir Thomas White when he was knighted by Queen Mary II of England the same year. Sir Thomas founded St John's College, Oxford in 1555.John Stow, A survey of London (London: Chatto & Windus, 1876), p. 195 He died on 12 February 1567 at Oxford University. Sir Thomas was buried in the chapel of St. John's College, Oxford.David Nash Ford, 'Sir Thomas White (1492-1567)', Royal Berkshire History (2003)

The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity was started in 1542 and it still exists. It gives interest-free loans to new businesses in Leicestershire and Rutland. There are several memorials to Sir Thomas White in England and he is memorialized on Leicester's clock tower.

 Family  

Sir Thomas first married a woman named Avice. She died on 26 February 1558. He married secondly Joan, daughter of John Lake. She was the widow of Ralph Warren, Lord Mayor of London.Henry Thomas, The Wards of London, Vol I (London: J. Gifford, 1828), p. 423 Sir Thomas White did not have any children by either wife.

 References 

 Other websites 

Sir Thomas White Loan Charity

Category:1490s births
Category:1567 deaths
Category:English knights
Category:Mayors of London
Category:People from Reading, Berkshire