John Bonham (mercer)

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John Bonham was a mercer in the City of London in the 13th and 14th centuries. He is listed as one of the Nine Worthies of London by Richard Johnson in his 1592 book about famous citizens.

According to Johnson, Bonham was an apprentice from Devonshire who carried a valuable cargo to Denmark and earned favor at the Danish court (then ruled by the House of Oldenburg). While there he supposedly commanded an army to stop the progress of the "great Solyman" during Edward I’s reign. He was said to have made peace with the Turkish leader, who knighted him and gave him chains of gold. However, it is not clear which war he fought in, or even if Bonham was a real person. He has been linked with a Sir John Bonham of Wishford (fl. 1336–37).