Thomas Mun (1571–1641), English writer on economics, was the third son of a substantial London family. His grandfather was an officer of the mint and acquired a coat of arms, his uncle was also an officer of the mint, and his stepfather was a director of the newly formed East India Company. Nothing is known of his education, but it is presumed, since there were close links between the Indian and the Mediterranean trades, that he served his apprenticeship in the latter. In fact, he says in one of his books that he lived for some time in Italy. He became a prominent and rich member of the East India Company, married the daughter of a Bedfordshire gentleman, and inherited and bought land in the country. One of his daughters married a baronet, another a merchant. His son appears to have lived the life of a country gentleman.