George Barne III

Sir George Barne III
Lord Mayor of London
In office 1586–1587
Preceded by	Wolstan Dixie
Succeeded by	Sir George Bonde
Member of Parliament for London
In office 1588–1589
Sheriff of London
In office 1576–1577
Auditor of London
In office 1574–1574
Personal details
Born	1532
Died	1593
Occupation	merchant

Sir George Barne III (c. 1532–1593) was a prominent merchant and public official from London during the reign of Elizabeth I, and the son of Sir George Barne II, and Alice Brooke.

Barne was a haberdasher of London, who was an Alderman of the London ward Bridge between 1574–1576, Tower between 1576–1583, Langbourn between 1583–1587, and Bassishaw between 1587-1593. Barne served as Auditor of London in 1574, Sheriff of London between 1576–1577, Lord Mayor of London between 1586–1587, and was knighted by Lord Chamberlain in 1587. He was a Master of the Haberdashers' Company between 1586–1587, represented London in the Parliament between 1588–1589, and was President of St. Thomas' Hospital between 1592-1593. Barne was also the Governor of the Muscovy Company several times, and a founder of the Spanish Company, in 1577, and the Turkey Company.

In 1580, he helped finance a voyage to discover a Northeast Passage, like his father had done decades earlier. Barne supported the voyage of Edward Fenton in 1582 and John Davis's voyage in 1586, both which sought to find the Northwest Passage.

He was related to several families of the London oligarchy, had shares in the Company of Mineral and Battery Works, and was well connected, considered one of the most influential people of his times in London municipal affairs. Sir Jerome Horsey wrote that Barne was his dear friend, and it is noted that Barne was a contemporary of Henry Hudson.John Stow dedicated his work "The Chronicles of England" to Barne.

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