The Founders' Company began its existence as one of the early medieval "guilds" or associations formed by members of various crafts or trades in the City of London.

Their main purposes were to defend the craft against unfair competition, to assist its members in their work, to help those in distress and to promote and control education.

Founders were workers in brass and brass alloys or tinplate known as "Iatten" or "laton", producing small cast articles such as candlesticks and pots and pans. Their workshops were situated in and around Lothbury, a street that still exists under that name.

The earliest surviving evidence relating to the Guild of Founders is a petition in Norman French which it made in 1365 to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen for its Ordinances to be enrolled at Guildhall, which was granted. The Company must already have been in existence at that date, but the year 1365 served as the basis on which the Company celebrated its 600th anniversary at Guildhall in 1965. The Wardens' Accounts go back to 1497 and only three other City Companies possess accounts starting earlier.

From 1508 to 1987 their parish church was St. Margaret Lothbury. Before that time, the Founders were associated with the church of St. Lawrence Jewry, and indeed there is evidence to suggest that the medieval guild grew out of a parish fraternity known as the Brotherhood of St. Clement, based on the church of St. Lawrence Jewry, which served the spiritual and material needs of its members.

It seems likely that, as many of them were small founders, the original social and religious purposes of the fraternity became increasingly subordinated to the task of defending and organising the craft itself.

If the early historian, Stow, is right, the founders were not always popular citizens. Speaking of Lothbury, he remarks:

"This street is possessed for the most part by Founders that cast candlesticks, chafing dishes, spice mortars, and such like copper or Laton works, and do afterwards turn them with the foot and not with the wheel, to make them smooth and bright with turning and scrating (as some do term it), making a loathsome noise to the by passers that have not been used to the like, and therefore by them disdainfully called Lothberie."

Early in the 14th century, the guilds came to be known as "mysteries", a name probably derived from the Italian word "Mestierii" used in Venice to describe crafts and trades.

The term "Livery Company" was adopted in the reign of Edward III (1327- 1377), by which time the members of different guilds wore distinctive dress when summoned to appear on ceremonial occasions.

An Act passed in 1364 decreed "all artificers and peoples of mysteries shall each choose his own mystery before the next Candlemas, and that having so chosen it, he shall henceforth use no other."

The historian, Macaulay, said of this Act: "Here commences the history of the English nation". In lighter vein, Dr. Hibbert remarks in his History of the Company that the principles of trade unionism are clearly not of very recent origin.

In 1590, the Company secured the grant of a coat of arms.

A larger landmark in the progress of the Company in its earlier days was the Royal Charter it received in 1614 from James I. This required an outlay of about £175 a very considerable sum in those days, which was mostly spent on payments to the City Remembrancer and had to be financed by a loan from the Master, Richard Rowdinge.

The Company's resources, like those of many others, were severely taxed by the constant demands for money made on the City by the Stuart Kings. In 1634 the Company had to sell all the silver spoons presented by Liverymen on their admission, except for one given by Humphrey Bowen. In 1684, when Charles II sought to remove the Whigs from control of the City and replace them by Tories, the Livery Companies were faced with a threat of legal action for alleged breaches of their Charters. As the judges were Royal appointees, and likely therefore to find in favour of the Crown, the Company found itself compelled to surrender its Charter and to submit to the King's demand for the election of Royal nominees as office-holders. In 1688, however, these measures were hastily revoked by James II, on hearing of William of Orange's imminent arrival, and the Company's Charter was restored.

Since 1987 and the move of the Company's Hall to Cloth Fair, the Founders have been associated with the parish church of St. Bartholomew the Great, founded in 1123 by Rahere. The Company's annual Election Day Service is held at this church.

Edward III

1365 John de Lincoln

Richard II

1366-90 Not known

1391 Thomas Grace

Robert Newman

Henry IV/V

1392-1423 Not known

Henry VI

1424 Walter Adam

Nicholas West

1425-7 Not known

1428 Walter Adam

William Byrd

1429-30 Not known

1431 William Turner

Simon Sterne

1432 John West

John Russell

1433-37 Not known

1438 John Russell

Robert Reynolds

Edward IV/V

Richard III

Henry VII

1439-96 Not known

1497 Robert Setcole

1498 Robert Setcole

1499 John Pinchbeck

1500 John Pinchbeck

1501 Robert Setcole

1502 Robert Setcole

1503 Randolf Austin

1504 Randolf Austin

1505 Randolf Austin

1506 Randolf Austin

1507 John Parker (or Sena)

1508 Robert Stacy

Henry VIII

1509 Robert Wells

1510 Robert Wells

1511 David Mills

1512 Thomas Halifax

1513 Thomas Halifax

1514 Thomas Halifax

1515 Robert Wells

1516 Robert Wells

1517 Robert Wells

1518 David Mills

1519 William Grigby

1520 William Grigby

1521 Thomas Sweeting

1522 Thomas Sweeting

1523 William Grigby

1524 William Grigby

1525 Thomas Sutton

1526 Thomas Sutton

1527 Robert Bridgewater

1528 Thomas Sutton

1529 William Knight

1530 William Knight

1531 Thomas Green

1532 Thomas Green

1533 John Wise

1534 John Wise

1535 Thomas Paxton

1536 Thomas Paxton

1537 Thomas Railton

1538 Thomas Railton

1539 Thomas Paxton

1540 John Wise

1541 James Sewen

1542 John Goter

1543 John Beer (or Bere)

1544 Humphrey White

1545 John Goter

1546 William Abbott

Edward VI

1547 William Abbott

1548 Humphrey White

1549 David Southern

1550 David Southern

1551 Roger Taylor

1552 Roger Taylor

Jane

1553 David Southern

Mary I

1554 Roger Taylor

1555 Christopher Stubbs

1556 Christopher Stubbs

1557 John Green

Elizabeth I

1558 John Jackson

1559 John Jackson

1560 Roger Taylor

1561 Christopher Stubbs

1562 Thomas Barley

1563 Robert Falconer (or Faulkner)

1564 Robert Falconer

1565 John Jackson

1566 Thomas Barley

1567 Robert Shurlock

1568 Robert Shurlock

1569 Uryan Daniell (formerly Evans)

1570 Robert Falconer

1571 John Chambers

1572 John Jackson

1573 Thomas Barley

1574 Robert Shurlock

1575 John Chambers

1576 John Chambers

1577 John Jackson

1578 Edward Falconer (or Faulkner)

1579 Edward Falconer

1580 Edward Hearne

1581 Edward Hearne

1582 John Jackson

1583 John Chambers

1584 Edward Falconer

1585 Edward Hearne

1586 Uryan Daniell

1587 Thomas Horton

1588 Robert Waldo

1589 Robert Waldo

1590 Nicholas Roberts

1591 Nicholas Roberts

1592 John Chambers

1593 Edward Falconer

1594 Edward Hearne

1595 Robert Waldo

1596 Thomas Jackson (Died in office)

1597 Nicholas Roberts

1598 Richard Rowdinge

1599 Richard Rowdinge

1600 Robert Waldo

1601 Nicholas Roberts

1602 Edward Hearne

James I

1603 Richard Rowdinge

1604 Humphrey Liddell

1605 Humphrey Liddell

1606 Richard Rowdinge

1607 Edward Gaseley

1608 Edward Gaseley

1609 Humphrey Liddell

1610 Richard Rowdinge

1611 Ezekiel Major

1612 Ezekiel Major

1613 John Hull

1614 Richard Rowdinge

1615 Ezekiel Major

1616 John Hull

1617 Edward Parnell

1618 John Rawlings

1619 John Hull

1620 Hugh Rogers

1621 Edward Pamell

1622 John Rawlings

1623 Ezekiel Major

1624 John Bowen

Charles I

1625 Francis Curwen

1626 Abraham Woodall

1627 John Hull

1628 Francis Curwen

1629 Abraham Woodall

1630 John Rawlings

1631 Richard Weoley (or Willey)

1632 Sisley Edwardes

1633 Francis Curwen

1634 Abraham Woodall

1635 William Randall

1636 Henry Carless (or Carles)

1637 John Wright

1638 Joseph Parratt

1639 Anthony Whaley

1640 Richard Weoley

1641 Sisley Edwardes

1642 Henry Carless

1643 Joseph Parratt

1644 Thomas Bosworth

1645 Richard Smith

1646 Thomas Stead

1647 Thomas Stead

1648 Richard Smith

Oliver Cromwell LP

1649 William Yardsley

1650 Joseph Parratt

1651 Henry Carless

1652 Simon Cage

1653 John Wright

1654 William Yardsley

1655 Stephen Pilchard

1656 Simon Cage

1657 William Burroughes

Richard Cromwell LP

1658 Stephen Pilchard

1659 William Burroughes

Charles II

1660 Marmaduke Almond

1661 William Ragdale

1662 William Yeames

1663 Marmaduke Almond

1664 William Ragdale

1665 Clement Dawes

1666 John Beauchamp

1667 Moses Brown

1668 George Dixon

1669 George Dixon

1670 John Stead

1671 Timothy Lane

1672 Moses Brown

1673 Andrew Grace

1674 Roger Fisher

1675 Clement Dawes (Died in office)

Andrew Grace

1676 Timothy Lee

1677 John White

1678 Abel Hodges

1679 Daniel Houghton

1680 Peter Causton

1681 Thomas Aylward

1682 John Armiger

1683 John Underwood

1684 Col Theophilus Oglethorpe

James II

1685 John White, Deputy Master

1686 William Rutter, ditto

1687 Richard Meakins, ditto

1688 William Crossfield

William III & Mary II

1689 George Chew

1690 Thomas Webb

1691 Henry Hemings

1692 Thomas Hawgood

1693 John Wingrave

John Attwick

1694 Thomas Watson

1695 Edmund Read

1696 Samuel Pilchard

1697 Matthew Beaver

1698 Noah Delaunay

1699 William Crossfield

1700 Thomas Aylward

1701 Noah Delaunay

Anne

1702 Noah Delaunay

1703 William Rogers

1704 Thomas Newman

1705 Richard Nevill

1706 Stephen Reynolds

1707 John Smith

1708 Noah Delaunay

1709 Joseph Dampney

1710 Samuel Newton

1711 John Brooks

1712 William Hayward

1713 John Meakins

George I

1714 Daniel Hancock

1715 Robert Burton

1716 John Wade

1717 Anthony Giles

1718 William Warren

1719 Robert Turner

1720 Arthur Gardner Snr

1721 John Peel

1722 John Scott

1723 William Parsons

1724 Philip Davies

1725 John Richardson

1726 David Higby

George II

1727 Daniel Hudson

1728 Robert North, (Dismissed)

Robert Burton

1729 John Halfhide

1730 Anthony Webster

1731 Capt. Richard Nevill

1732 Henry Hines

1733 Daniel Lawrence

1734 William Gardner

1735 John Sunderland

1736 Thomas Pearce

1737 Isaac Dobbins

1738 John Bridge

1739 George Meal

1740 John Giles

1741 Samuel Goadby

1742 William Ford

1743 John Beard

1744 John Bladwell

1745 Samuel Collisham

1746 John Walker

1747 John Bundy

1748 John Allen

1749 Nathaniel Clarke

1750 John Tillier

1751 William Gibbs

1752 John White

1753 Patrick Hawes

1754 Thurston Ford

1755 William Jones

1756 Richard Chapman

1757 John Marsh

1758 Thomas Tuck

1759 Richard Chapman

George III

1760 Walter West

1761 Thomas Clark

1762 John Newton

1763 Daniel Bucknell

1764 Edward Lloyd

1765 Ambrose Denman

1766 John Cuttridge

1767 William Lister

1768 William White

1769 Samuel Rogers

1770 William Hone

1771 Samuel Jacombe

1772 Tuffin Shepherd

1773 Edward Holmes

1774 Thomas Walker

1775 Sacheverell Hollyer

1776 William Lane

1777 John Cole

1778 John Jenkin

1779 Thomas Cartwright (Died in office)

Edward Watson

1780 William Kinsman

1781 Joseph Keys

1782 John Trent

1783 William Rogers

1784 John Warner

1785 William Farm

1786 Tomson Warner

1787 William Newman

1788 James Haygarth

1789 Samuel Taylor

1790 John Hooper

1791 John Reynolds

1792 John Cave

1793 John Chamberlain

1794 James White

1795 William Borradaile

1796 John Rea

1797 William Timmins

1798 Joseph Bramley

1799 William Savill

1800 John Seale

1801 James Burrows

1802 Archdale Wilkins

1803 Thomas Hornsby

1804 William Dunbar

1805 John Rea

1806 Joseph Thornhill

1807 Michael Barnett

1808 John Batger

1809 Joseph Meyer

1810 Alexander Lean

1811 John Warner

1812 William Timmins

1813 Robert Westley

1814 James Burrows

1815 James Burrows

1816 William Gillman

1817 Edward Winter

1818 John Gray

1819 Joseph Warner

George IV

1820 William King

1821 William Barnes

1822 William Gillman

1823 Robert Davies

1824 William Borradaile

1825 William Roper

1826 Robert Warner

1827 John Warner

1828 Thomas Mears

1829 John Stott

William IV

1830 James Burrows

1831 James Chooling

1832 William Devey

1833 John Moxon

1834 Jeremiah Barratt

1835 William Hurrell

1836 John Chapman

Victoria

1837 John Burnell

1838 William Franks

1839 Thomas Moxon Jr

1840 John Stahlschmidt

1841 William Christie

1842 Francis Bacon

1843 Charles Botten

1844 John Sexton

1845 William Huggins

1846 William Hems

1847 Charles Warner

1848 Stephen Lowdell

1849 Charles Mears

1850 James Moul

1851 Mark Marsden

1852 William Williams

1853 William Williams

1854 George Mears

1855 John Christie

1856 Thomas Oliver

1857 William Hems Jr

1858 William Franks

1859 William Burton

1860 Thomas Moxon Jr

1861 William Christie

1862 Richard Dale

1863 William Hems Jr

1864 Gervase Parnell

1865 Charles Warner

1866 Robert Warner

1867 James Franks

1868 Mark Marsden

1869 Edward Metcalf

1870 William Franks

1871 Francis Pritchett

1872 Edward Baldock

1873 Edward Franks

1874 Joseph Holland

1875 William Fowler

1876 George Forrest

1877 Henry Hodsoll Heath

1878 George Aitchison

1879 Micajah Walker

1880 John Stahlschmidt

1881 Gervase Parnell

1882 Robert Warner

1883 Francis Pritchett

1884 George Berry

1885 Capt. Edward Baldock

1886 William Fowler

1887 William Evan Franks

1888 George Cockerell

1889 George Forrest

1890 Walter Franks

1891 Samuel Linder

1892 William White

1893 Henry Hodsoll Heath

1894 Frederick Harris

1895 Edward Bridgewater

1896 Charles Devey

1897 William Chambers

1898 Octavius Jepson

1899 James Dixon

1900 Richard Williams

Edward VII

1901 William Bruty

1902 Robert Wales

1903 Frederick Todd

1904 Walter Franks

1905 Montague Herbert

1906 Henry Franks

1907 Charles Devey

1908 William Tetley

1909 Sydney Pollard

George V

1910 George Hilditc Walker

1911 Wynne Baxter

1912 Ernest Hepburn

1913 Richard Williams

1914 William Cooper

1915 Alfred Brookman

1916 Edmund Lucas

1917 William Aitchison

1918 Henry Young

1919 James Taylor

1920 Henry Tait Moore

1921 William Devey

1922 Charles Miller

1923 William Hibbert

1924 Percy Horley

1925 Capt. Alfred Hodsoll Heath

1926 Soanes Gardner

1927 Augustus Blaxter

1928 Lt Col Dudley Cookes DSO

1929 Harry Hughes

1930 Dr. Hugh Stannus

1931 Percy Young

1932 Stanley Young

1933 Robert Warner

1934 James Taylor

1935 Robert Hatswell

Edward VIII

1936 William Christopher

George VI

1937 Francis Miles

1938 Robert Ababrelton

1939 Gordon Young

1940 Douglas Young

1941 Percy Horley

1942 Capt. Alfred Heath

1943 Augustus Blaxter

1944 Lt Col Dudley Cookes DSO

1945 Charles Woodfield

1946 Stephen Warner

1947 William Fossick

1948 Leslie Corbould- Ellis

1949 Augustus Blaxter

1950 Jack Wheeler

1951 George Cotton

Elizabeth II

1952 Kenneth Adams

1953 Dr. Hugh Stannus

1954 Frank Greene

1955 Herbert Bradbrook

1956 Leonard Cotterell

1957 Rev Richard Walker

1958 George Ilsley

1959 Arthur Jennings

1960 Douglas Young

1961 Ernest Moss

1962 Samuel Walker

1963 Charles Littler Smith

1964 Lt Col James Thomson

1965 Guy Hadley

1966 Harvey Young

1967 Dr. James Pearce

1968 Reginald Longcroft

1969 Paul Gunn

1970 Patrick, Lord Rathcreedan

1971 Capt. William Gregson

1972 John Beardmore

1973 Peter Blaxter

1974 John Cully

1975 Francis Rowe

1976 Raymond Scott

1977 James Longcroft

1978 Lewis Wilson

1979 Christopher Savory

1980 Charles Wilson

1981 Sydney Farmer

1982 J Alan Prior

1983 William Warner

1984 John Hinman

1985 Noel Crighton

1986 Peter Swan

1987 Arthur Mitchener

1988 John Williams

1989 Harry Draycott

1990 John Cordle

1991 Brian Farmer

1992 George Lunt

1993 David Lindop

1994 David Atterton

1995 Robert Stevens

1996 Robert Lightfoot

1997 William Fossick

1998 Robert Savory

1999 Leslie Kemp

2000 Sir Ian Ley Bt

2001 Anthony Newman

2002 Nigel Turnbull

2003 Jeremy Lansdell

2004 Richard Martin

2005 Philip Prain

2006 Christopher Rogers

2007 John Kelly

2008 Ronald Sichel

2009 Thomas Rollason

2010 Clive Allport

2011 David Cogan

2012 Philip Horton

2013 Andrew Gillett

2014 Patrick Draycott

2015 John Butterworth

2016 William Beadles

2017 Michael Swan

2018 Matthew Farrant

2019 Martin Shenton

2020 David Robinson

2021 John Wood

Charles III