George Barne II

Who was George Barne II?

Sir George Barne II was the Sheriff of London between 1545–1546, Lord Mayor of London in 1552, Alderman of the London wards Portsoken between 1542–1546 and Coleman Street between 1546–1558, a chief proponent of trade with Russia, and son of George Barne, a citizen of London and alderman. He was an incorporator of the first English Company, and helped finance Sir Hugh Willoughby's attempt to find a Northeast Passage in 1553, which would end in disaster. He also helped finance the first Guinea voyage in 1553, commanded by Thomas Wyndham. He was one of the first four Consuls of the Company of Merchant Adventurers to New Lands, in which Barne, along with Sebastian Cabot, are credited for laying the business foundation of future English prosperity, discovery, commerce, and colonization through this company, including the colonization of the future United States.

Barne was a stern moralist, and was knighted in 1553. He died in 1558 and was buried at St. Bartholomew-the-less in London. His son George would eventually fulfill many of his trade dreams, although there is historic dispute as to which Barne is credited as the first merchant adventurer, or investor, to Russia, Barbary, and Genoa.