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John Alleyn (mercer)

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Sir John Alleyn (sometimes Alleyne;[1] died 1544) was an English merchant and politician who served two terms as Lord Mayor of London.

Family

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John Alleyn was the eldest son of Richard Alleyn of Thaxted. He had two brothers, Christopher and John; it was not unknown at this time for families to have two sons with the same given name. His brothers both married daughters (and co-heirs) of Giles Leigh of Walton Leigh.[2]

Career

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Alleyn became a successful mercer in London, where he was elected as one of the Sheriffs of London in 1518.[3] He was elected to his first term as Lord Mayor in 1525, and to a second term in 1535.[2] He was later chosen to join the Privy Council of King Henry VIII.[3] He was one of the principal benefactors of the 16th-century rebuilding of the Hospital of St Thomas of Acre, where he was later interred.[4] He also left a rich golden collar to be worn by Lord Mayors of London.[5]

Death and legacy

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Alleyn died in 1544 and was buried at a chapel which he had built in St Thomas Acres.[2] He had no legitimate children, but he did have two illegitimate sons and one daughter. The elder son, Christopher Alleyn, inherited sufficient wealth to secure his status in society, becoming a Member of Parliament and marrying a daughter of William Paget, 1st Baron Paget.[6] Part of Alleyn's estate went to his brother John Alleyn, junior, ancestor of the Alleyn baronets.[2]

References

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