tour 3 of 28
London 1753
Sir Richard Hoare After a painting by Allan Ramsay (1713-84)
Sir Richard Hoare (1709-1754) was the grandson
of the founder of the bank that still bears his name. He is shown
here in a print that, at two shillings, is unusually expensive for
its size. He wears the robes of office that he wore as Lord Mayor
of London in the year
1745-6.
From as early as
Saxon times, London craftsmen had grouped together to protect their
interests. These fraternities developed into the great Livery
Companies that underpin the administration of the City. In the
eighteenth century no trader could operate within the boundaries of
the City unless he or she was a freeman of one of the seventy-seven
Companies. Women could become members and frequently ran
businesses, but they could not progress to the more senior rank of
liveryman from which was elected the City's governing body,
the Corporation of London. Residents of each ward elected members
of the Corporation from Liverymen: between four and twelve Common
Councilmen according to the size of the ward, and one Alderman who
held office for life. Each year the Lord Mayor and at least one of
the two Sheriffs were elected from the Court of Aldermen by the
Livery Companies.