Other conspicuous Skinners of the sixteenth century were Sir John Champneys, Lord Mayor in 1534 and six times Master of the Company; Sir Richard Dobbs, Lord Mayor in 1551 and four times Master, who took a very active part in the foundation of Christ’s Hospital; Sir Wolstan Dixie, Lord Mayor in 1585 and seven times Master, also President of Christ’s Hospital; Sir Stephen Slaney, Lord Mayor in 1595, Master four times and President of Christ’s Hospital; Sir Richard Saltonstall, Lord Mayor in 1597, Master four times, and Governor of the Merchant Venturers’ Company. The sixteenth-century benefactors of the Company include Thomas Hunt and Lawrence Atwell, under whose wills, dated respectively in 1557 and 1588, considerable property was bequeathed to the Company for various charitable purposes; and Henry Fisher, under whose benefaction, by deed dated in 1562, an Exhibition at Brasenose College, Oxford, is maintained for a Tonbridge scholar, and remuneration is provided for the preacher of the annual Corpus Christi sermon. Sir James Lancaster was a successful merchant, trading to the East Indies, and an esteemed naval commander. In 1600 he was appointed the first Admiral of the fleet of the East India Company, of which he was a director. Under his will, dated 1618, certain Exhibitions at the Universities, and stipends for poor preachers, are awarded by the Company. Sir Thomas Smythe, son of Dame Alice Smythe, and grandson of Sir Andrew Judd, after serving the office of Sheriff of London, became the first Governor of the East India Company. He was also prominent in connection with the Muscovy Company and the Virginia Company, and acted as Ambassador from James I to the Czar of Russia. By his will, proved in 1625, property was left to the Company, out of which certain University Exhibitions, as well as scholarships at Tonbridge, are established; and the residue is distributed for charitable purposes among poor residents in certain parishes in Kent, under a scheme sanctioned by the Chancery Division in 1883. Under the will of William Stoddard, dated 1611, the Company possesses the right to nominate children to Christ’s Hospital.