William Dockwra was a merchant in London, born about 1640. He became a member of the Armourer and Brasiers Livery Company and was appointed a Customs Under-Searcher for the Port of London in 1663, for which he was paid the sum of £12 per year. He was part-owner of a ship, the SS Anne which traded to the Guiny coast of Africa, and received grants of land in New Jersey, America, probably due to his position as Secretary and Register of the Board of Proprietors of East Jersey.

His main claim to fame, though, was as the co-author of the London Penny Post in 1680. Pre-dating Rowland Hill and the General Post Office by over 150 years, William and his partners set up a postal service for London, whereby a letter could be sent anywhere in the capital for a penny. There were three post offices where letters could be handed in for delivery, and the service lasted until replaced by the national postal system set up by Rowland Hill in 1840.

Above right: The arms of the Honourable Company of Armourers and Brasiers
of which William Dockwra was Master in 1692/3