Charlotte Matthews

Charlotte Matthews (born Charlotte Marlar; 1759 – 9 January 1802) was a British businesswoman who was a member of Lloyd's of London and a banker. She was a close business associate of Boulton and Watt.

Life Matthews was born in London as Charlotte Marlar, the daughter of Ann and John Marlar. Her father was a merchant and banker and she was baptised at All-Hallows-the-Great in London on 23 March 1759. She had an elder sibling and in time four more were born. There is no detail of her education but she was known to be literate. A John Marlar is surmised to have owned a book collection which included a book printed by Caxton in 1481. On 1 August 1776 she was at Monken Hadley where she married William Matthews. The most notable of his customers had been the Matthew Boulton and James Watt partnership. Like her husband she corresponded with Matthew Boulton and she would take a holiday at his house each year. The business between them was based on trust and their business borrowed thousands of pounds with no security or contract being recorded. She inherited two clerks, Mrs Matthews received money on their behalf and advised them about potential businesspeople and kept them aware of markets and current events. Her house, Croydon Lodge, was bought by Thomas Bainbridge (1749-1830).