Sir Godfrey Webster

Sir Godfrey (1650–1720) was a merchant and prominent member of the Cloth Worker’s Guild. He provided a loan to William III after the Glorious Revolution of 1688. In return, the King gave Sir Godfrey the contract to supply clothing to the Army and hemp to the Navy. This was so lucrative that by 1710 he owned enough stock in the Bank of England to qualify as a Director.