The organisation originates from the latter part of the 14th century receiving its Royal Charter in 1444, and is therefore the senior leather industry-related City Livery Company.

The Company continues to support higher education through exhibitions (grants) to university students, a practice which began in 1603 when four 'poor scholars', two at Oxford and two at Cambridge, were awarded five pounds and five shillings each per annum.

The Leathersellers' Company is affiliated with the Royal Navy's submarine HMS Audacious, the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards[4] and with 230 Squadron RAF.

The first almshouses run by the Company were built circa 1543-44, close to Leathersellers' Hall, on a site behind St Ethelburga's Church and housed seven elderly people.

In 1837 the Company also built almshouses at Barnet in north London; these were extended in the mid-nineteenth century.