William Walworth

Who was William Walworth?

Sir William Walworth, was twice Lord Mayor of London. He is best known for killing Wat Tyler.

His family came from Durham. He was apprenticed to John Lovekyn, a member of the Fishmongers Guild, and succeeded his master as alderman of Bridge Ward in 1368, becoming sheriff in 1370 and lord mayor in 1374.

He is said to have suppressed usury in the city during his term of office as mayor. His name frequently figures as advancing loans to Richard II. He supported the king's uncle John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster in the city, where there was a strong opposition to John.

William Walworth worked for a time in the Customs House under Geoffrey Chaucer. In John Gardner's book "The Life and Times of Chaucer" Walworth is described as one of a number of important merchants, all friends of Alice Perrers, who used their influence with the king. In his book Gardner says that according to complaints in the House of Commons, this group conspired to keep food prices up, lent money to the king at inflated interest, and through personal and financial influence persuaded the king to issue edicts profitable to themselves.