Isabel Bras Williamson (–), was a Scottish merchant, who was known as one of the most prominent female merchants in late medieval Scotland.

Life

Isabel Bras was born around 1430 and was probably the daughter of Simon Bras () of

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

. She married the prominent Edinburgh merchant Thomas Williamson. With her help, her husband began trading with

Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...

. After his death she took responsibility for the business, particularly trading with

. Between 1464 and 1473, she was widowed. Instead of allowing her son John, who was being trained in the family business at the time, to take over her late husband's businesses, she ran them herself, including trading with Flanders. However, from the 1480s, she started to work in partnership with her son, and he became a member of the Edinburgh Merchant Guild in 1487. Williamson became very well regarded in mercantile circles and specialised in importing fine goods from Europe, and exporting wool in exchange. She was well known that her son John was referred to as "Isabel Williamson's son" in a treasurer's account in 1474. She also acquired burgess status, which was very unusual for a woman at that time. From the 1470s, she became a active supplier of luxury cloths and textiles to the royal household, including to the nursery, the King and Queen and their important servants. Her son John later continued supplying the royal household from the 1490s. She later acquired land at Mortonhall and founded a chaplaincy in 1489 at the altar of St. Lawrence in St. Giles,

. Williamson died probably died in or after October 1493 and was probably buried beneath the altar at St. Giles.

References

External links

List of famous women
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williamson, Isabel Bras Year of birth uncertain 1493 deaths 15th-century Scottish businesspeople Medieval Scottish merchants 15th-century Scottish women Medieval businesswomen