Germyn Lynch

Germyn Lynch (fl. 1441 – 1483) was a merchant and entrepreneur from Galway, Ireland.

Lynch was a member of one of The Tribes of Galway and is remarkable in that It is most unusual to be able to trace for over forty years the fate and fortunes of a common man in late medieval Ireland. He was at various times a goldsmith, freeman and Alderman of City of London, and Master of the Irish mints, a post from which he was dismissed five times for making lightweight coins. As shipmaster he carried pilgrims to Santiago, sailed to Iceland for goods, as well as merchandise to and from Bristol. Timothy O'Neill, in his review of Lynch's life, states that If such variety can be glimpsed from the scattering of references ... the full life history of Germyn Lynch ... would surely equal the most exciting imaginings of any writer of historical novels.

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