Theodore Janssen

Sir Theodore Janssen of Wimbledon, 1st Baronet (1650s, Angoulême, France – 22 September 1748, Wimbledon, London) was a French-born English financier and member of parliament who, after a long and successful career in commerce, was ruined and disgraced by his part in the South Sea Bubble.

His grandfather, Theodore Janssen de Heez, had taken refuge in France from the Duke of Alba's persecution in the Netherlands.

After he and Jacob Sawbridge, the first two directors to be summoned, had been heard, a motion was proposed and passed unanimously that both "were guilty of a notorious Breach of Trust, as Directors of the SouthSea Company, and thereby occasion'd very great Loss to great Numbers of his Majesty's Subjects, and had highly prejudic'd the publick Credit".

They were statutorily disqualified from sitting in Parliament or holding public office and their assets confiscated to make reparations to the investors ruined in the crash.

He married Williamza or Williamsa Henley (died 2 September 1731) on 26 January 1698 at Christ Church Greyfriars, London, and had issue, including Abraham, Henry, and Stephen.