- Hugh Hamersley
Sir Hugh Hamersley (
6 July 1565 –19 October 1636 ) was a 17th century businessman andLord Mayor of London .Hamersley's family estate was at Pyrton Manor near
Oxford , but rose to prominence in London as a businessman. From 1601 he was a member of the Haberdasher's Company, at which he served as Master from 1619-20 and from 1627-8. During the 1620s he was on the board of several merchant companies, including the mercant companies of Russia, the Levant, East India, France, Virginia and Spain.Hamersley also served in political positions, being Sheriff of the City of London in 1619. He was Colonel of the City from 1619 to 1633. After his term as Mayor from 1627-8 he was knighted by King Charles I.
In 1634 Hamersley was president of Christ's hospital charitable school. After his death a memorial was erected by his widow in the church of
St Andrew Undershaft , London.A painting of Hamersley, known as the Ashbourne portrait, was widely reproduced during the 19th century as a portrayal of
William Shakespeare . In 1979 examination of the portrait revealed that it had been retouched to alter Hamersley's age by one year, and also uncovered Hamersley's coat of arms, which had been painted over. ["The Ashbourne Portrait of Shakespeare: Through the Looking Glass", by William L. Pressly, Shakespeare Quarterly, 1993, pp. 54-72.]References
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