thumb|upright| portrait of Hoare by Jonathan Richardson
Sir Richard Hoare (1648 – 6 January 1719) was an English banker who founded C. Hoare & Co, the oldest extant bank in Britain.
Business career
Raised near Smithfield Market in London, only son of horse-dealer Henry Hoare (died 1699) and Cicely (died 1679), Richard Hoare began his working life apprenticed to the goldsmith Richard Moore from 9 June 1665 for seven years. He attained the office of alderman in September 1703. At the election of May 1705, he first stood for the constituency of London, but could only manage fifth place as the City Tories were soundly defeated. He also failed in the City election of 1708, finishing seventh having also contested the election in 1711.
A monument to his memory stands in the church of St Dunstan-in-the-West and was designed and created by Thomas Stayner.
Family
Hoare married Susanna Austen; they had 17 children (one of whom was Henry Hoare I).