William Harpur

Sir William Harpur (c.1496 – 27 February 1574) was a merchant from Bedford who moved to London, amassed a large fortune, and became Lord Mayor of London. In 1566 he and his wife Dame Alice left an endowment to support certain charities including education. The endowment became the Harpur Trust which supports five independent schools in Bedford today.

Career

The name Harper (or Harpur as it was always spelled from 1764 onwards) is mentioned around 1500 in connection with families from Bedford and Biddenham. We know little detail about the life of William. It seems likely that he attended the school in what is now Mill Street, Bedford, then School Lane. It is not certain whether he was a tailor. He was certainly a shrewd businessman. He went to London and was admitted to the guild of Merchant Taylors in 1533. There he would have come into contact with the leading citizens of the day. We know that in 1553 he was elected alderman for the ward of Bridge Without and, three years later, he was elected alderman of the more prestigious ward of Dowgate in preference to three other candidates, one of whom was Thomas Gresham. It had become the custom, after the dissolution of the monasteries, to appoint aldermen as governors to the royal hospitals. Harpur was treasurer of St Bartholomew's Hospital. He served as sheriff from 1556-1557, and became Lord Mayor of London in 1561. In 1562 he was knighted by the Queen.

The endowment

It was at this time that he arranged Bedford’s endowment. On 30 September 1562 he bought 13 acres of land and 3 roods of meadow for £180 13s at Holborn, which was just a little way outside the expanding city of London, and therefore this was a good investment. On 22 April 1566 he and Dame Alice conveyed the purchase to Bedford corporation.

Later life

Harpur continued to lead an active life until he was over 70. He contributed to the purchase of a site for Gresham’s Exchange in 1565. He was regularly in attendance at the meetings of the Merchant Taylors. His wife died on 10 October 1569. William Harpur married Margaret Lethers in September 1570. He died in 1574 aged 77. He was buried, according to his wishes, in the churchyard of St Paul’s, Bedford. His wife put up a brass to him with the inscription: “Hereunder lieth buried the body of Sir William Harpur, knight, alderman and late Lord Mayor of the city of London, with Dame Margaret, his last wife.” The plaque is on the south wall of the church, making the word “hereunder” slightly incorrect. Dame Margaret herself remarried twice before dying in Bedford on 3 November 1596.

Legacy

We know very little detail about the life of Sir William Harpur, but he rose from a humble background to become a highly successful man of business. The Harpur Trust continues today, supporting education as well as leisure activities for the people of Bedford. The five schools which are governed by the trust are Bedford School, Bedford High School, Bedford Modern School, Dame Alice Harpur School and Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School.

The name Harpur is borne today by the estate office, a street in London, a street in Bedford, the Harpur electoral ward of Bedford, a hospital ward, a group of almshouses, the Harpur Suite (former assembly rooms by the Central Library), and a shopping centre.

References

“The Harpur Trust 1552-1973” by Joyce Godber; White Crescent Press Ltd 1973; ISBN 0-9502917-0-6