Charles Peers

Sir Charles Peers (1661 – 29 January 1737) was a British businessman who became the Chairman of the East India Company in 1714 and Lord Mayor of London in 1715. He had previously served as one of the Sheriffs of the City of London in 1708–1709.

Biography Peers was born to Edmund Peers (d. 1681) and Mary Walden, in 1661, of the parish of the St. Katherine Creechurch, Aldgate ward, London. Through his mother, he was a nephew of Sir Lionel Walden, who served as Mayor of Huntingdon. Peers was educated at St Paul’s School, London.

Peers was an active merchant trading between Málaga, London, and other European ports, operating both on his own account and as an agent for other merchants in England. In 1689 Peers married Sarah Baud, the niece of Lady Susanna Morden (née Brand), the wife of Sir John Morden, founder of Morden College. Through this union, Peers expanded his commercial interests, reportedly receiving a quarter share in a East Indiaman, the 'Velez Merchant' as part of Sarah's dowry.

Peers served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Salters, one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London in 1716-17.

He was a Director of the Bank of England in 1705-07 and 1708–12, a Director of the New East India Company in 1701-05 and 1706–09 and a Director of the United East India Company in 1712-15. He was Chairman of the latter for 1714-15.

He was knighted on 16 July 1707, by Queen Anne of Great Britain. He served as a Sheriff of the City of London (1708–1709) and as Lord Mayor of London (1715–16), of which he was granted a coat of arms reflecting his civic prominence.