George Barne II

Sir George Barne II
Lord Mayor of London
In office 1552–1553
Preceded by	Richard Dobbis
Succeeded by	Thomas Whyte
Sheriff of London
In office 1545–1546
Personal details
Born	about 1500
Died	18 February 1558
Occupation	merchant

Sir George Barne (died 1558) was an English businessman in the City of London who was active in developing new trading links with Russia, West Africa and North America. Created a knight in 1553, he served as Sheriff of London and Lord Mayor of London. He was the father of Sir George Barne III and grandfather of Sir William Barne. Nicholas Culverwell was probably a nephew.

His father was George Barne I, whose family had links with Wells, Somerset, a citizen of the City of London, an alderman, and a member of the Grocers' Company.

Following his father into business, as well as conventional activities such as exporting cloth to and importing wine from Spain, he is notable for his role in establishing new connections far outside what had been traditional English trading patterns. With his son-in-law Sir William Garrard, he was a leading figure in promoting the first expedition in 1553 of the Company of Merchant Adventurers to New Lands, part of which led to Sir Hugh Willoughby's unsuccessful attempt to find the Northeast Passage to China, but also resulted in Sir Richard Chancellor's successful negotiations with Tsar Ivan IV in Moscow. A founder and active member in 1555 of the Muscovy Company, he remained a chief proponent of increasing trade with Russia. Interested also in West Africa, he helped finance the first Guinea voyage in 1553, commanded by Thomas Wyndham. In North America, as one of the first four Consuls of the Company of Merchant Adventurers to New Lands, along with Sebastian Cabot he is credited for laying the foundation of future English commerce and colonisation along the eastern seaboard.

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