Micajah Perry
Micajah Perry (died 1753) was a British tobacco merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1727 to 1741. He was Lord Mayor of London in 1738.
Perry was the son of Richard Perry, merchant, of Leadenhall St, Londonand his wife Sarah Heysham. His grandfather Micajah Perry was the most significant tobacco merchant in England and an agent for Virginia. Perry's father died in 1720 and his grandfather died in 1721, and he inherited the family business. He married Elizabeth Cocke, daughter of Richard Cocke, a London linen-draper. He became a member of the Haberdashers’ Company.[1]
Perry handled the affairs of the Virginia tobacco planters in London. He was frequently consulted about the colony by the Board of Trade. However he was lacking the business acumen of his grandfather and progressively lost business.[2] He achieved more success politically. At the 1727 general election, he was elected Member of Parliament for City of London and also in 1727 became Master of the Haberdasher's Company. He became a City Alderman for Aldgate on 24 February 1728.[3] He was re-elected MP for the City at the 1734 general election[1] and was also Sheriff of London in 1734. However, with his business declining he was forced to sell 'Hylands House', his large house in Epsom in 1734[4] although he retained a smaller house 'The Hylands'.[5] He also sold his quays and warehouses in the London docks in 1735. His wife died in October 1738 and was buried at Epsom.[2]
Perry became Lord Mayor of London for the year 1738 to 1739 [3] and laid the foundation of the Mansion House in his Mayoralty on 25 October 1739.[6] He was a colonel of the Orange Regiment from 1738 to 1745. At the 1741 general election, he lost his seat in Parliament.
By 1743, Perry was suffering ill-health from a dropsy, and was in a condition which made his friends fear for his life. He became unable to attend the meetings of the corporation and resigned his aldermancy in November 1746. He also found himself in financial difficulties, and was granted a pension of £200 p.a. by the court of aldermen.[1]
Perry died without issue on 22 January 1753.[1]
References
- "PERRY, Micajah (d.1753), of St. Mary Axe, London and Epsom, Surr". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- Jacob Price (2010). Perry of London: A Family and a Firm on the Seaborne Frontier. Harvard University Press. pp. 80–87. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- Alfred P Beaven. ", 'Chronological list of aldermen: 1701-1800', in The Aldermen of the City of London Temp. Henry III - 1912 (London, 1908), pp. 119-140". British History Online. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- Epsom and Ewell History Explorer Hylands House
- Epsom and Ewell History Explorer The Hylands
- Alfred P Beaven. ", 'Notes on the aldermen, 1701-1838', in The Aldermen of the City of London Temp. Henry III - 1912 (London, 1908), pp. 195-211". British History Online. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richard Lockwood Sir John Barnard Francis Child Richard Hopkins |
Member of Parliament for City of London 1727–1741 With: Sir John Barnard 1727-1741 Sir John Eyles, Bt 1727-1734 Humphrey Parsons 1727-1741 Robert Willimott 1734-1741 |
Succeeded by Sir John Barnard George Heathcote Daniel Lambert Robert Godschall |
| Civic offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir John Barnard |
 1738 |
Succeeded by Sir John Salter |