William Wright (York merchant)

William Wright
Member of the England Parliament
for York
In office
5 February 1515 – 22 December 1515
Preceded byWilliam Nelson
Thomas Drawswerd
Succeeded byThomas Burton
John Norman
Personal details
Born1482 (1482)
Died1543 (aged 60–61)
SpouseUrsula Joye
Children2 children known
ParentWilliam (Father)

William Wright was one of two Members of the Parliament of England for the constituency of York during the year 1515.

Life and politics

There are few records detailing the life of William Wright. Born around 1482 to William Wright, he was a merchant and notary who became a member of York's Corpus Christi Guild in 1503 and held the offices of sheriff (1511–1512)[1] and Alderman of the City of York (1514).[2]

Wright was elected to represent the city as MP in January 1515, but this was his only term in office, and the parliament was dissolved on 22 December 1515. Wright was originally intended to serve with Alan Staveley, but Staveley was replaced by the more experienced William Nelson.[2] He also served as lord mayor of York (1518–1519),[1] having been elected by letters patent. At some point after 1515 he married Urusula Joye of Riccall. In 1523 he was contracted by Cardinal Wolsey to be master of the archiepiscopal mint.[2][3] He served a second term as lord mayor in 1535,[1] which was marked by a dispute with the Archbishop of York over land at Bishopfields.[2] William was a named executor of the will of fellow merchant and horner, William Huby.[4]

Wright made his will on 10 April 1543, shortly before his death. He requested to be buried in St Martin's Church in Coney Street and left a third of his goods to his wife and children.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hildyard, Christopher (1719). The antiquities of York city, and the civil government thereof; with a list of all the mayors and bayliffs, lord mayors and sheriffs, from the time of King Edward the First, to this present year, 1719. Collected from the papers of Christopher Hildyard, esq., with notes and observations. G.White. p. 70.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "The History of Parliament Trust". Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  3. ↑ Pallister, David Michael (1979). Tudor York. Oxford University Press. p. 107. ISBN 9780198218784.
  4. ↑ Swanson, Heather Crichton (December 1980). Craftsmen and Industry in Late Medieval York (PDF). Department of History, University of York. p. 292.