GRESHAM (Sir Thomas), an opulent merchant of London, descended from an ancient and honourable family of Norfolk, was born in 1519. He was, as his father had been before him, appointed king's agent at Antwerp, for taking up money of the merchants; and, in 1551, he removed to that city with his family. This employment was suspended on the accession of queen Mary; but, on proper representations, was restored to him again. Queen Elizabeth conferred the honour of knighthood upon him, and made him her agent in foreign parts. It was at this time he thought proper to provide himself with a mansion-house in the city, suitable to his station and dignity; with which intention he built that large house on the west side of Bishopsgate-street, afterwards known by the name of Gresham-college. His father had proposed building a house or exchange for the merchants to meet in, instead of walking in the open street; but this design remained for the son to accomplish. Sir Thomas went beyond his father: he offered, if the citizens would provide a proper piece of ground, to build a house at his own expence; which being accepted, he fulfilled his promise after the plan of the exchange at Antwerp. When the new edifice was opened, the queen (Jan. 29, 1570,) came and dined with the founder; and caused a herald with a trumpet to proclaim it by the name of the Royal Exchange. In pursuance also of a promise to endow a college for the profession of the seven liberal sciences, he made a testamentary disposition of his house in London for that purpose; leaving one moiety of the royal exchange to the corporation of London, and the other to the mercer's company, for the salaries of seven lecturers in divinity, law, physic, astronomy, geometry, music, and rhetoric, at 50l. each per ann. He left several other considerable benefactions, and died in 1579.—Those who have drawn Sir Thomas's character observe, that he had the happiness of a mind every way suited to his fortune, generous and benign; ready to perform any good actions, and encourage them in others. He was a great friend and patron of our celebrated martyrologist John Fox. He was well acquainted with the ancient and several modern languages; he had a very comprehensive knowledge of all affairs relating to commerce, whether foreign or domestic; and his success was not less, being in his time esteemed the highest commoner in England. He transacted queen Elizabeth's mercantile affairs so constantly, that he was called the royal merchant; and his
reville. his house was sometimes appointed for the reception of foreign princes upon their first arrival at London.