Jean du Quesne, the elder also known as Jan or Jehan (dec. 1624) was a particularly well-documented Huguenot refugee from Flanders[1] reported to be from Ath in Hainaut, the son of Jean Du Quesne, native of Valenciennes[2] . Of noble extraction, Du Quesne escaped to England in 1568 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I following the low country persecutions of Protestants under the Duke of Alva. A historical record of Du Quesne's flight and of the sale of his goods and furniture in 1569, as well as the letting of his 'maison, chambre, estatte et jardin' is contained in the Belgian Archives.[3][4]
Du Quesne originally settled in Canterbury where he served as an elder of the French Church.[5] He was married to Judith Millon (dec. May 2, 1627) and they had three children: Jean du Quesne, the younger, David and Marie. The family soon migrated to London,[6] settling in Old Jewry. They became active in the French Church on Threadneedle Street.
Du Quesne was the patriarch of English branch of a prominent Huguenot family of business and politics known as "Du Cane",[7] an early 17th century anglicization of the original family name.[8] The Du Cane family played a prominent role in the founding of the Bank of England and the East India Company, as well as in British politics of the 18th and 19th centuries. His descendants include John Houblon, first Governor of the Bank of England, several Members of Parliament including Sir Richard Du Cane in the 18th century and Sir Charles Du Cane in the 19th century.