John Houblon

Sir John Houblon
Born	1632-03-13 London, England
Died	1712-01-10
Occupation(s)	Merchant, Financier
Years active	1689–1712
Known for	First Governor of the Bank of England (1694–1697), Lord Mayor of London (1695)

Sir John Houblon (13 March 1632 – 10 January 1712) was a distinguished English merchant and financier, recognized as the inaugural governor of the Bank of England from 1694 until 1697, and held the office of Lord Mayor of London in 1695.

Early life

Born as the third son to James Houblon, a merchant based in London, and Mary Du Quesne, John Houblon descended from a family of Huguenots who originated in Lille. The Houblons established themselves as influential figures in trade and financial sectors. His younger sibling, Abraham Houblon, also occupied the role of Governor at the Bank of England between 1703 and 1705. Another brother, James Houblon, was engaged in commerce, served as a Member of Parliament for the City of London, and acted as a Bank director. Additionally, four other brothers achieved success as merchants.

Career

Throughout his professional life, Houblon undertook numerous significant roles: he was appointed Sheriff of the City of London in 1689, served as Alderman from 1689 to 1712, and held the position of Master at the Worshipful Company of Grocers between 1690 and 1691. In 1695, he assumed the office of Lord Mayor and simultaneously acted as a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty from 1694 to 1699. Notably, he was the first individual to govern the Bank of England during its initial years (1694–1697). Afterward, he returned as a director at the Bank starting in 1700 and also directed the New East India Company from 1700 to 1701.

In 1701, Houblon made an unsuccessful bid for a parliamentary seat representing the City of London. Despite some claims, he never served as an MP for Bodmin.

Appearance on banknotes

In commemoration of the Bank's tercentenary in 1994, Houblon's likeness appeared on the reverse side of the Bank of England's Series E £50 banknotes. The design incorporated his residence located on Threadneedle Street, which now forms part of the current Bank building. This particular note was withdrawn in 2011 when replaced by a new £50 note featuring James Watt and Matthew Boulton; it ceased to be legal currency on 30 April 2014.

Personal life

In 1660, he wed Mary Jurin, who came from a Flemish Protestant background. Together they had eleven children; however, only two sons outlived him. Their home was situated near Threadneedle Street on land that would later host the Bank of England's premises, alongside ownership of a rural estate at High Ongar in Essex.

External links

• Sir John Houblon 1632-1712 at the Bank of England website
• The Rulers of London 1660-1689, J.R. Woodhead, British History Online
• The Friends of Charles Darwin