Thomas Danby (mayor)

Thomas Danby (1631–1667) of Farnley and Thorpe Perrow was the first Mayor of Leeds (1661–62).[1][2]

He was born in 1631, the son of Sir Thomas Danby (1610–1660) of Farnley Hall (West Yorkshire), and his wife Katherine Wandesford, and married Margaret Eure in 1659.[3]

In 1660 he became Member of Parliament for Malton, and in 1661 (via a charter for the city of Leeds from King Charles II) he became the first Mayor of Leeds. The mayoral duties were actually carried out by his deputy Edward Atkinson, but Danby's symbols were added to the Leeds coat of arms.[1][2]

He died on 31 July 1667 in a sword fight in a London tavern.[4]

Thomas Danby College was named after him.

  1. ^ a b Kirby, J.W. (1986) Northern History p 123 "Restoration Leeds and the Aldermen of the Corporation 1661–1700"
  2. ^ a b Leeds Civic Trust Archived 27 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Leeds Coat of Arms
  3. ^ Cliffe, J. T. (2008). "Danby family (per. 1493-1667)" (available online to subscribers only). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online edition. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/71867. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  4. ^ Middlesex Sessions Rolls 1667 31 July and 1 August