Francis Lycett

Sir Francis Lycett (1803 – 29 October 1880) was a British businessman and philanthropist, and a prominent member of the Methodist Church. Born in Worcester, he was the son of Philip Francis Lycett and his wife Mary. Following his education at a private school in Worcester, he initially entered employment in the family glove works. In 1832, he became the manager of the London headquarters of Dent, Allcroft & Co., a large glove-making business located in Worcester. He was based in the City of London and became a member of the city's corporation.

In 1847, he became a partner in Dent Allcroft & Co., retiring from business in 1865 later on. He continued his association with the City of London. Then in 1866, he was elected as one of the two Sheriffs of London and Middlesex. He was knighted in 1867, became a justice of the peace for Middlesex and a Deputy Lieutenant for the City of London in 1869.

On 16 June 1869, Sir Francis Lycett laid the foundation stone of the Methodist church in the village of Wye in Kent.

A Liberal in politics, he made a number of unsuccessful attempts to enter parliament including at Liskeard in 1869 and St Ives in 1874 and Worcester in 1878. In 1870, he was elected to the first London School Board, as one of the members representing Finsbury.

In 1837, he married Amelia Sarah Emily Vanderpant, the daughter of John Vanderpant of Utrecht in the Netherlands.

Lycett died on 29 October 1880, at his home at 18 Highbury Grove, Islington, aged 77, and was buried on the western side of Highgate Cemetery. He left an estate of more than a quarter of a million pounds, much of which he willed to various Methodist charities.