William Capel

Sir William Capel (c. 1446 – 1515) was the son of John Capell (1398–1449) of Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk. He became Lord Mayor of London and was an MP.

Sir William was a member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers, who served as Sheriff of the City of London for 1496, and was elected Lord Mayor in 1503. He was elected a member of Parliament for the City of London, from 1511 to 1515.^[1]

His mansion stood on the current site of the London Stock Exchange and No. 3 Capel Court, in the city of London, and is named for him. He added a south chapel to the church of St Bartholomew-by-the-Exchange. William also purchased the old Hadham Hall in Little Hadham, Hertfordshire, and its estate would remain in the Capell family from many generations. A new hall was later built there, although it is uncertain whether it was built on the site of the old hall or a new site, which later became the family seat for the Capell family, from the 1570s onwards.

Sir William married Margaret Arundell, daughter of Sir John Arundell of Lanherne (1421–1473) by his second wife, Katherine Chideocke. Their daughter, Elizabeth Capell, was the first wife of William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester.

See also

• List of Sheriffs of the City of London
• List of Lord Mayors of London
• City of London (elections to the Parliament of England)

References