William Harpur
Sir William Harpur | |
|---|---|
| Lord Mayor of London | |
| In office 1561–1561 | |
| Preceded by | William Chester |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Lodge |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1496 |
| Died | 27 February 1574 |
| Resting place | St Paul's Church, Bedford, England |
| Occupation | Merchant |
| Known for | Establishing the Harpur Trust |
Sir William Harpur (c. 1496 – 27 February 1574) was an English merchant and philanthropist who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1561. Born in Bedford, he moved to London and amassed a large fortune. In 1566, Harpur and his wife Alice gave a financial endowment to support several charities including ones focused on education. The endowment eventually became the Harpur Trust, which supports four independent schools in Bedford today.