John Hawley

John Hawley (or Hauley) (c.1340 or 1350 –30 Dec 1408) was Mayor of Dartmouth and MP for Dartmouth.

Biography
He was the son of John Hawley of Dartmouth. His family reportedly came from the hamlet of Allaleigh and this may account for the origins of his name.

He was Mayor of Dartmouth, Devon on fourteen occasions between 1374 and 1401 and elected MP for Dartmouth in 1390, 1393, 1394 and 1402.

Hawley was both a merchant and licensed privateer though he was often accused of piracy. He conducted a number of naval operations in the English Channel and briefly held the post of deputy to the Admiral of England under Henry IV. He organised the defence of Dartmouth in 1404 against an attack by a Breton fleet, which culminated in the battle of Blackpool Sands.

He died in Dec 1408 and was buried in a tomb in St Saviour's Church, Dartmouth. He is reputed to be one of the models for Chaucer's "schipman". He had married twice:firstly Joan (died 12 July 1394) and secondly Alice (d. 7 Jan. 1403) with whom he had a son, John.