Thomas Raikes Thomas Raikes Thomas Raikes ("the Elder") (28 March 1741 – 29 December 1813) was a British merchant particularly trading from London with Russia, a banker and newspaper proprietor. Notably, he was Governor of the Bank of England during the 1797 currency crisis, when the Bank was prohibited by the British Government from paying out in gold. Raikes was born at Gloucester in 1741, third son of Robert Raikes the Elder and Mary Drew. His brothers included Robert Raikes, the founder and promoter of Sunday schools, and William Raikes, a director of the South Sea Company. Raikes was Governor of the
Robert Raikes the Elder Raikes and Dicey divided their partnership, Dicey retaining the Northampton press, and Raikes taking sole ownership of the "Gloucester Journal" press (now moved to premises in Southgate Street) and associated printing business. Raikes' business thrived, despite a change in newspaper duties in 1725, and a number of brushes with the law over articles published under his authority. In 1743, the "Gloucester Journal" was moved for a second time into larger premises in the Blackfriars area of Gloucester. Robert Raikes died at Gloucester, where he was buried in the church of St Mary de Crypt. Raikes was married three times: Two