Sir Thomas Abney (January 1640 – 6 February 1722) was an English merchant and banker who served as

Lord Mayor of London The Lord Mayor of London is the Mayors in England, mayor of the City of London, England, and the Leader of the council, leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded Order of precedence, precedence over a ...

from 1700 to 1701. Abney was the son of James Abney and was born in

Willesley Willesley is a historic village, ward and suburb of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, in the North West Leicestershire district, in the county of Leicestershire, England. It was originally in Derbyshire. Willesley Hall was the home of the Abney and later ...

, then in

Derbyshire Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It borders Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire to the north, Nottinghamshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south-east, Staffordshire to the south a ...

but now in

Leicestershire Leicestershire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire to the north, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire to the south-east, Warw ...

. He was the younger brother of Edward Abney, later MP for

Leicester Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...

. He was educated at

Loughborough Grammar School Loughborough Grammar School is a 10–18 Private schools in the United Kingdom, private boys' school in the town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England, founded in 1495 with money left in the will of Thomas Burton (merchant), Thomas Burton. To ...

, where a house is named after him. Abney was apprenticed to William Thorogood, citizen and fishmonger of London, on 1 February 1658.C. Webb, London Livery Company Apprentices. Vol. 44. Fishmongers' Company 1614–1800 (London: Society of Genealogists, 2004) In 1668, he took up the Freedom of the Fishmongers Company and also married Sarah Caryl who died in 1698. In 1694 he was one of the original Directors of the Bank of England and was elected a

Sheriff of London Two Sheriffs of the City of London are elected annually by the members of the City livery companies. Today's Sheriffs have only ceremonial duties, but the historical officeholders held important judicial responsibilities. They have attended the ...

. He was elected

in 1700 and was knighted by

William III William III or William the Third may refer to: Kings * William III of Sicily () * William III of England and Ireland or William III of Orange or William II of Scotland (1650–1702) * William III of the Netherlands and Luxembourg (1817–1890) N ...

. Abney was a pious man, and no business or festivity, was allowed to interrupt his religious observances. It was said that "on the day he became Lord Mayor, he withdrew from the Guildhall after supper, read prayers at home, and then returned to his guests". For thirty-six years he kept Dr

Isaac Watts Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748) was an English Congregational minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. His works include " When I Survey th ...

, as his guest and friend, at his mansion at

Stoke Newington Stoke Newington is an area in the northwest part of the London Borough of Hackney, England. The area is northeast of Charing Cross. The Manor of Stoke Newington gave its name to Stoke Newington (parish), Stoke Newington, the ancient parish. S ...

. In 1700, Abney married Mary Gunston, who was surprisingly independent. It was Mary Abney who gave her name to

Abney Park Abney Park is in Stoke Newington, London, England. It is a park dating from just before 1700, named after Lady Abney, the wife of Sir Thomas Abney, Lord Mayor of London in 1700 and one of the first directors of the Bank of England and associa ...

. Abney had a nephew also named

Thomas Abney Sir Thomas Abney (January 1640 – 6 February 1722) was an English merchant and banker who served as Lord Mayor of London from 1700 to 1701. Abney was the son of James Abney and was born in Willesley, then in Derbyshire but now in Leicestershi ...

, who was a judge.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abney, Thomas 1640 births 1721 deaths People from Derbyshire (before 1897) People educated at Loughborough Grammar School Sheriffs of the City of London 17th-century lord mayors of London 18th-century lord mayors of London Knights Bachelor 17th-century English merchants