Sir Thomas Abney (January 1640 – 6 February 1722) was a merchant and banker who served as Lord Mayor of London for the year 1700 to 1701. Abney was the son of James Abney and was born in

Willesley Willesley is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish 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 ...

, then in Derbyshire but now in

Leicestershire Leicestershire ( ; postal abbreviation Leics.) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East Midlands, England. The county borders Nottinghamshire to the north, Lincolnshire to the north-east, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire t ...

. 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 and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest settlement in the East Midlands. The city l ...

. He was educated at Loughborough Grammar School, 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. He was elected Lord Mayor of London in 1700 and was knighted by

William III William III or William the Third may refer to: Kings * William III of Sicily (c. 1186–c. 1198) * 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 ...

. 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, as his guest and friend, at his mansion at

Stoke Newington Stoke Newington is an area occupying the north-west part of the London Borough of Hackney in north-east London, England. It is northeast of Charing Cross. The Manor of Stoke Newington gave its name to Stoke Newington the ancient parish. The ...

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

. Abney had a nephew also named Thomas Abney, 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 18th-century lord mayors of London Knights Bachelor