John Watts (merchant)
Sir John Watts (c. 1554–1616) was an English merchant, Alderman and shipowner, active in the East India Company and Virginia Company and Lord Mayor of London in 1606. (Sir John Watts)
Life
The son of Thomas Watts of
Cadiz. Although Watts was not on board, throughout the war he equipped and financed privateers led by Michael Geare, William Lane and Christopher Newport. A few of his notable successes include his financed and organised expedition to the Spanish main in 1590, the expedition to Cuba the following year and James Lancaster's expedition to Recife in April 1595. Watt's received significant prize money from the success of these expeditions. Another in July 1601 took into Plymouth a prize coming from the Indies laden with China silks, satins and taffetas. At this time he was an alderman of London (Tower ward), and had been suspected of being a supporter of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
.
He was one of the founders of the East India Company, and on 11 April 1601 was elected its governor, during the imprisonment of
Clothworkers' Company
.
Watts died at his seat in Hertfordshire in September 1616, and was buried on the 7th of the month at Ware.
Family
By his wife Margaret, daughter of
Restoration
he was made receiver for Essex and Hertfordshire. He died about 1680, and was buried in the church of Hertingfordbury.
His descendants live on to this day, still remaining in England and Wales.
References
- ^ Bicheno p. 314
- Bicheno, Hugh (2012). Elizabeth's Sea Dogs: How England's Mariners Became the Scourge of the Seas. Conway. ISBN 978-1-84486-174-3.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Watts, John (d.1616)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
