Background
He was the son of John Webbe, a clothier of Reading in Berkshire.
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William Webbe
Edit ProfileAlderman mayor merchant president
Career
Webbe moved to London and joined the Salters" Company, one of the livery companies of the city. He was elected alderman in 1581, then as one of the Sheriffs of London later the same year. He was elected mayor in 1591, succeeding Rowland Heyward.
While serving as mayor, he was the subject of a dedication of one of the works of the author Richard Johnson, his "Nine Worthies of London." After his term, he served as the president of Bridewell and Bethlem Hospitals, from 1594 until his death.
He died in 1599. William Webbe was connected by blood or marriage to several other important figures of the time. He was the maternal uncle of William Laud, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Webbe married Bennet Draper, daughter of an earlier Lord Mayor of London, Sir Christopher Draper.
