Sir Thomas Gresham, English financier and philanthropist, c 1540.

Portrait by Hans Holbein (1497-1543) of Sir Thomas Gresham (1519-1579), founder of the Royal Exchange. Gresham was made ambasador to the Netherlands by Elizabeth I from 1559-1569. Following the death of his son, Gresham built an Exchange inspired by the one he had seen in Antwerp. He also founded Gresham College in London and created eight alms-houses.