David Barclay of Cheapside

David Barclay of Cheapside (1682–1769) was a Scottish merchant and banker.^[1]

He was the second son of Robert Barclay, the Scottish Quaker writer, and was active in the Society of Friends. An apprentice in London in 1698, he became a leading linen merchant. Involved in banking through a family connection with John Freame, father of his second wife, Barclay was not directly concerned with the firm that much later became Barclays Bank; but two of his sons were, John and David Barclay of Youngsbury, who famously manumitted his slaves.^[1]

In 1761 he played host to the newly married King George III and Queen Charlotte, who came and watched the Lord Mayor's procession from the balcony of his house, which had been hung with crimson silk damask for the occasion.^[2]^[3] He had previously similarly entertained both George I (1714) and George II (1727).^[1]

Success in business brought Barclay a fortune of £100,000 at his death.^[4] He lived opposite St Mary-le-Bow, and was noted for his hospitality to Quaker ministers.^[5]

^ ^a ^b ^c Dickson, P. G. M. "Barclay, David". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/37149. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ Walter Thornbury (1878), Old and New London, vol 1 s.v. Cheapside: Shows and pageants
^ John June (1761), A view of Cheapside as it appeared on Lord Mayor's Day last (print), British Museum collection
^ Margaret Ackrill; Leslie Hannah (2001). Barclays: The Business of Banking, 1690-1996. Cambridge University Press. pp. 15–6. ISBN 978-0-521-79035-2.
^ Rebecca Larson (1 September 2000). Daughters of Light: Quaker Women Preaching and Prophesying in the Colonies and Abroad, 1700-1775. UNC Press Books. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-8078-4897-5.

[ODNB-1] Dickson, P. G. M. "Barclay, David". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/37149. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[2] Walter Thornbury (1878), Old and New London, vol 1 s.v. Cheapside: Shows and pageants

[3] John June (1761), A view of Cheapside as it appeared on Lord Mayor's Day last (print), British Museum collection

[AckrillHannah-4] Margaret Ackrill; Leslie Hannah (2001). Barclays: The Business of Banking, 1690-1996. Cambridge University Press. pp. 15–6. ISBN 978-0-521-79035-2.

[5] Rebecca Larson (1 September 2000). Daughters of Light: Quaker Women Preaching and Prophesying in the Colonies and Abroad, 1700-1775. UNC Press Books. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-8078-4897-5.

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