Edward Osborne

According to the tale, William Hewett lived in a home on London Bridge and a nursemaid was playing near a window with his infant daughter, Anne, when the baby was accidentally dropped out of the window and into the Thames River. Edward instantly dove in after Anne and saved her life. When Anne grew up she had many suitors but her father wanted her to marry Edward. The often quoted line from the book was. "Sir William was pleased to say, Osborn saved her, and Osborn should enjoy her." The story was again adapted in 1852 for the popular Victorian novel, 'The Colloquies of Edward Osborne' by Anne Manning. Paintings of Edward's rescue are preserved at the Clothworker's Hall and at Hornby Castle in Yorkshire. To whatever degree the story is true, it is known that William Hewett set Edward on a very successful path and that Edward and Anne did marry in 1562.

In 1552 Edward was released from his apprenticeship and accepted into the Clothworkers as a New Freeman under William Hewett. Edward traveled much and visited Madrid, Constantinople and possibly Venice. Years later he oversaw a successful trading business with those cities as part of The Venice Company, The Turkey Company and ultimately as the first governor of the 'Merchants of the Levant trading to Turkey and Venice' at the time of it's charter in 1591. The Levant Company as it was later known lasted until 1825.

William Hewett died in January 1567. Edward and Anne acted as joint executor's of his estate, and Edward assumed many of his father-in-law's business interests. Edward and Anne also inherited his mansion in Philpot Lane, and many of his other properties. Anne purchased an estate in Barking, Essex, and lands in Wales and Harthill in Yorkshire.

In 1572 Edward was elected Treasurer of St. Thomas's Hospital, eventually he served as president, 1586-91. In 1573 he was elected Alderman of the Castle Baynard Ward and in 1576 became Sheriff of the City of London. On September 29th, 1583 Edward was chosen as Lord Mayor. Edward became Sir Edward Osborne when he was knighted on February 2nd, 1584. Among his deeds as mayor he ordered restrictions on the use of pack horses and carts on the city streets during the sabbath-day and deported Irish beggars and ordered them not to come back to London. After his mayoral term Edward served as a Member of parliment representing the City of London in 1586.

Anne died in 1585 and was buried at St. Martin Orgars on July 14th. Edward remarried to Margaret Chapman but had no children. Edward died in on Februry 4th, 1592 without a will and was buried at St. Dionis Backchurch on February 15th, 1591/2. A monument to his memory stood at the church until 1666 when it was destroyed by the Great Fire of London. The church record of his burial still survives.

Edward and Anne's great-grandson, Sir Thomas Osborne became the 1st Duke of Leeds in 1694. Hornby Castle in Yorkshire is the seat of the Duke of Leeds and at one point a portrait of man wearing black armor that hung in the castle was thought to depict Edward Osborne. Later the picture was found to be John, 1st Lord Mordaunt of Turvey.