Richard Lyons (Warden of the Mint)

Sir Richard Lyons PC, MP (1310 - 1381) was a prosperous City of London merchant, financier, and property developer, who held a monopoly on the sale of sweet wine in London, during the 14th century. He was a Privy Counsellor, an Alderman of the City, a member of the Worshipful Company of Vintners and served as both as Sheriff of London and MP for Essex.

Lyons was a lifelong friend of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer.

Lyons was killed by Wat Tyler during the Peasants' Revolt.

Sir Richard was the most famous member of the Lyons family during the 14th century: he was a member of the Norfolk branch of the family. He was an illegitimate son of a Lyons father and a Flemish mother.

Lyons was a lifelong friend of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer and Chaucer’s father, a fellow vintner. Lyons employed Geoffrey as his deputy or Comptroller: although Lyons consistently engaged in vast fraud, on an unprecedented scale, of which Geoffrey Chaucer were necessarily aware, Geoffrey Chaucer repeatedly certified to the Exchequer, in 1374 and 1375, that no fraud was being committed by Lyons. Lyons was also a lifelong friend of John of Gaunt.

One of the leading merchants in the City of London, Lyons was a financier, merchant (in wine, wool, cloth, iron, and lead), shipowner, and property-developer. He had extensive business interests in Flanders and was extensively involved in overseas trade.

He was an Alderman of the City of London, a member of the Worshipful Company of Vintners, and served as Sheriff of London. Lyons was knighted and served as Privy Counsellor and Chief Financial Advisor to Henry III. He was also the Head of a Commission convened to investigate an attack on Portuguese merchant ships, in 1371, Keeper of the King’s Monies at the Tower of London, in 1375, Collector of the Petty Customs, in 1373, and Collector of Customs and Subsidies in 1375.

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