Thomas Myddelton

Sir Thomas Myddelton (1550 – 12 August 1631) was a Welsh merchant who was Lord Mayor of London before becoming a Member of Parliament for London. Early life He was the fourth son of Richard Myddelton, Governor of Denbigh Castle, and Jane Dryhurst. Among his siblings were William Myddelton, a poet and seaman, Sir Hugh Myddelton, 1st Baronet, a merchant and clothmaker, and Robert Myddelton, MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis and the City of London. Career As a youth, he was apprenticed to a grocer in London, and made his fortune in trade. He divided his time between London and Wales, and purchased Chirk Castle in 1595 for £5,000. He was a member of the Grocers' Company, a Member of Parliament for the City of London and a founder member of the East India Company, Sheriff of London in 1604 and Lord Mayor of London in 1613. His brother, Sir Hugh Myddleton, was instrumental in the creation of the New River which supplied London with fresh water from 1613. He was knighted in July 1603.