Mayor Northampton

Despite his past as a troublemaker being involved in public brawls, even being imprisoned in the Tower for a time because of one, John Northampton became an Alderman for the Cordwainer Ward in 1375 to 1377, and was a member of Common in 1376 during the Good Parliament, helping to impeach Richard Lyons. In 1376 he also became one of the two annually elected sheriffs of London.Then he became Mayor of London in 1381 for two years. He was a populist at a time when the common people felt they were being neglected and taken advantage of by the ruling class and the wealthy. John's term was distinguished by attempts to help the citizens. He opposed monopolies in the selling of fish, bread, ale, wine, and poultry, allowing tradesmen from outside the city to compete with London merchants.He also made a decision directly affecting currency. He had £80 minted as 76,000 farthings. A farthing was a quarter of a penny (discontinued in 1961). He insisted that bread be sold in measures that allowed a…