Sir William Laxton (c. 1500–1556) was a Lord Mayor of London during the reign of Henry VIII, and eight times Master of the Worshipful Company of Grocers. He is the founder of Oundle School. Life Laxton was born in Oundle, Northamptonshire, England, the son of John Laxton, a local merchant. He was educated at the grammar school in Oundle situated in the old 'gildhouse' in the churchyard of St Peter's parish church. Upon leaving school he went to London and became an apprentice of the Worshipful Company of Grocers in London. Having completed his seven-year term in 1519 he gained his freedom and prospered. In 1525 the citizen Grocer and Merchant Adventurer Robert Basford of All Hallows, Honey Lane named him as executor together with his widow Katherine and brother Edward, though at Basford's death in 1528 Edward and William reserved power at probate. He had at least one brother, John Laxton, who was also apprenticed a Grocer but appears to have died young: John was the father of William's heir Joan, who married an apothecary Thomas Wanton. It is likely that one Richard Laxton, apprenticed to John Preste (Grocer and Merchant Adventurer) in 1517, was also his brother, and there was a sister Joan who married Edward Cacher, of the Pewterers' Company. In 1531 William Laxton, John Prest and Edward Cacher, and two others, together purchased messuages and land in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. After gaining his livery Laxton was elected to the Court of Assistants, and was made Junior warden on 16 July 1534. In March 1535/6 Laxton was elected Alderman for the Aldersgate ward, and for the years 1536–37 and 1538–39 he was Master of the Grocer's Company. Laxton applied for and received a grant of arms in 1536. He served as Sheriff of London in the year 1540–41, together with Martin Bowes, in the mayoralty of Sir William Roche. Although these selections were made in July or August, the shrieval term of office did not commence until Michaelmas Eve. Therefore, the executions of Thomas Cromwell and of Dr Robert Barnes and his Lutheran companions, and the King's marriage to Catherine Howard, were all completed before Laxton took office. At Easter 1541 the Mayor, Aldermen and Crafts, greeted the river procession of the King and Queen from Westminster between the Tower and London Bridge 'in barges goodlie behanged and sett with banners', and accompanied them to Greenwich. It