Sir Henry Furnese, 1st Baronet

Sir Henry Furnese, 1st Baronet (30 May 1658 – 30 November 1712), was an English merchant and politician associated with Waldershare in Kent and Dover Street in Westminster. His career spanned the late 17th and early 18th centuries, during which he held various roles in commerce and government.

Furnese was the son of Henry Furnese of Sandwich, Kent, and Anne Gosfright, daughter of Andrew Gosfright of Sandwich. In 1672, he became an apprentice of the Drapers’ Company and subsequently pursued a career as a merchant trader in the City of London.

In 1691, Furnese was knighted at The Hague. He served as master of the Drapers' Company from 1694 to 1695 and was one of the original directors of the Bank of England when it was established in 1694. He held positions on the Directors’ Court of the bank from 1694 to 1697, then from 1699 to 1700, and again from 1700 to 1702. Additionally, he was a director of the New East India Company from 1698 to 1703.

In the political arena, Furnese was elected as Member of Parliament for Bramber in the 1698 general election. However, he was expelled in February 1699 for holding an office incompatible with his parliamentary seat. He was later elected as MP for Sandwich in 1701, only to be expelled again in the following month. He was subsequently re-elected for Sandwich and retained the seat until his death in 1712.

Furnese also served as Sheriff of London from 1700 to 1701. On 27 June 1707, he was created a baronet. In May 1711, he was appointed as an alderman of the City of London, representing the ward of Bridge Within.

He married twice. His first marriage was in November 1684 to Anne Brough, the 19-year-old daughter of linen draper Robert Brough of St Lawrence Jewry. Anne Furnese died in June 1695 and was buried in the parish church of St Lawrence Jewry. His second marriage was to Matilda, the widow of Anthony Balam and daughter of Sir Thomas Vernon, a fellow London merchant.

Henry Furnese died on 30 November 1712 at the age of 54. His son Robert succeeded to the baronetcy. His widow, Matilda, died on 8 May 1732. Furnese's tomb in Waldershare church was sculpted by Thomas Green of Camberwell.