Robert Aslett
Robert Aslett | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age London, England |
| Occupation | Banking official |
| Known for | Misappropriation of about £820,000 in Exchequer bills |
Robert Aslett (born 9 August 1754) was a British banking official known for the misappropriation of about £820,000 in Exchequer bills. He held the position of assistant cashier at the Bank of England, working under his uncle, Abraham Newland. In 1803, Aslett received a death sentence, which was later reduced to exile on the condition that he leave the country. This financial scandal led to the appointment of Henry Hase as the chief cashier.
Aslett was born in London to parents Robert and Elizabeth Aslett and attended Merchant Taylors' School. While incarcerated at Newgate Prison, he continued to enjoy certain privileges by bribing prison officials. According to an 1857 report in the Leicester Chronicle, he paid guards regularly to allow visitors and retained a stylish hairdresser, while also indulging in lavish meals throughout his imprisonment. After several years, he was released on the condition that he live abroad.