Jean du Quesne, the elder

Jean du Quesne, the elder (dec. 1624) was a particularly well-documented Huguenot refugee from Flanders, reported to be from Ath in the Province of Hainaut. Of noble extraction, Du Quesne escaped to England in 1568 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I following the low country persecutions of protestants under the Duke of Alva. He originally settled in Canterbury where he served as an elder of the French Church . He was married to Judith Millon (dec. May 2, 1627) and they had three chidren: Jean du Quesne, the younger, David and Marie.

Du Quesne was the patriarch of English branch of the prominent Huguenot family of business and politics known as "Du Cane", an early 17th century anglicization of the original family name.. The Du Cane family played a prominent role in the founding of the Bank of England and the East India Company, as well as in British politics of the 18th Century and 19th Century.