William Holles

Sir William Holles (or Hollis) (1471?– 20 October 1542) rose from apprenticeship to a mercer to become master warden of his company and Lord Mayor of London in 1539.

On 3 January 1539–40 he received in great state Anne of Cleves, on her way through the city, before her marriage[2] On 4 February, Holles and the Aldermen accompanied the king and queen by water to Westminster.

[3] Holles was a wealthy merchant, and besides two houses in London, one in Bishopsgate Street, where he kept his mayoralty, and another in the parish of St Mary-le-Bow, acquired several manors in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Middlesex and Essex.

He died at his house in London on 13 October 1542, and was buried in St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate, where a monument to his memory was erected in the middle of the north aisle.

He left the bulk of the estate to his grandson William (grandfather of John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare).