Sir William Hedges (21 October 1632 – 6 August 1701) was an English merchant and the first governor (1681–1683) of the East India Company (EIC) in Bengal. In later life, his positions included joint sheriff of London for 1694.
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Life and career
He was born in Coole in County Cork, Ireland, the eldest son of Robert and Catharine Hedges. The Hedges had their roots in Wiltshire, and had originally gone by the surname of Lacy.
Details of Hedges' early career are unclear, but it is known that he went to Turkey as a trader for the Levant Company. In his diaries, he refers to his knowledge of colloquial Turkish and Arabic. Initially posted to the trading station (or factory) in Smyrna, by 1668 he had risen to the position of company treasurer in Constantinople. It is alleged, however, that the demands of this position became too much for him. Having arranged for a replacement from Smyrna, he quit Turkey and returned to England around 1670–71.
In London, Hedges involved himself in a variety of ventures. He joined The Mercers' Company, supreme among the City's livery companies. He invested £500 in the recently reformed Royal African Company. He served two stints as a Levant Company assistant. From 1677 to 1680, he was a councilman for his local ward of Bassishaw. He was Colonel of the Green Regiment, London Trained Bands, in 1697.