Sir Robert Clayton

A full-length portrait showing Sir Robert Clayton, Lord Mayor of London and a director of the Bank of England. He is seated in Mayoral robes and wears the chains of the Lord Mayor of London. His body is angled to the right but he is facing the painter.

Clayton was born in 1629 and in his youth was apprenticed to a scrivener's shop in Cornhill, in the City of London. He made a profitable business acting as a money broker and in 1702 he was made a director of the Bank of England.

Clayton inherited a 75 acre plantation on Bermuda through marriage. As well as his money broker business, he made money through serving on the management board of the Royal African Company and invested this income in charitable organisations.