Born in Cornwall
Born in Cornwall, England. He later moved to London where he established himself as a tailor.
GL
1628–1705 · Cornwall, England
Gilbert Latey
Fox's key London associate who secured legal protections for Friends
Life & Ministry
Convinced and Joins Friends
Came among Friends during the early expansion of the Quaker movement into London. Became one of Fox's key associates in the capital.
Legal Advocacy for Friends
Used his position as a court tailor to gain access to monarchs and ministers, petitioning for the release of imprisoned Quakers and for legal protections for the Society of Friends.
Death
Died in 1705, having lived to see the Toleration Act of 1689 grant the legal protections he had spent decades seeking.
Connections & Relationships
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George Fox
Close AssociateLatey was one of Fox's most trusted associates in London, serving as a practical link between the Quaker movement and the corridors of political power.
WP
William Penn
Fellow AdvocatePenn and Latey were both prominent London Quakers who used their social positions to advocate for the rights of Friends, though Penn operated on a larger political stage.
GW
George Whitehead
Fellow London FriendWhitehead was another key London Quaker leader who worked alongside Latey in petitioning for the release of imprisoned Friends and securing legal toleration.
Available Works
The Life of Gilbert Latey
ProposedPublished in Friends' Library Vol. I, this biography records Latey's remarkable career as a court tailor who used his access to monarchs to intercede for persecuted Quakers.
Records of Legal Appeals and Testimonies on Behalf of Friends
ProposedA collection of Latey's petitions, appeals, and testimonies presented to authorities on behalf of imprisoned and persecuted Friends, also found in Friends' Library Vol. I.