Charles Paston, Lord Paston facts for kids
Charles Paston, Lord Paston (born May 29, 1673 – died December 15, 1718) was an English politician. He was the eldest son of William Paston, the 2nd Earl of Yarmouth. His mother, Charlotte Paston, was the daughter of King Charles II.
Early Life and Family
Charles Paston went to Eton College, a famous school, from 1686 to 1690. His father, William Paston, had been a friend of King James II, who was no longer on the throne. Because of this, his father was not very rich and was even put in prison twice. People thought he might be supporting James II, who was trying to get his throne back.
Political Career
Charles Paston tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for Norfolk in 1690. However, he did not win the election.
Even though his father had problems with the new king, Charles Paston had good connections. He knew the Earl of Portland, a powerful person at court. In 1694, Charles Paston promised his loyalty to King William and Queen Mary. Later that year, he went with the Earl of Portland on a special trip to Paris. He also joined the Life Guards, a special military unit, in 1694.
He tried again to become an MP in 1698 but lost once more. However, in 1699, another MP named Joseph Williamson left his seat in Thetford. Charles Paston was then chosen to take his place. In the same year, he was given an important job for life: Vice-Admiral of Norfolk. This meant he was in charge of naval matters for the Norfolk area. But he lost the next election in 1700.
In 1704, Charles Paston left the Life Guards. He became the colonel, or leader, of a group of soldiers called an infantry regiment. By 1705, he faced money problems because of his father's debts. He sold his regiment in 1710. Later, by 1716, he started receiving a regular payment called a pension. King George I also gave him extra money twice to help him with his "present necessities," meaning his financial needs.
On August 31, 1711, Charles Paston married Elizabeth Pitt. They had one daughter together. Charles Paston passed away on December 15, 1718, before his father. Because of this, when his father died in 1732, the title of Earl of Yarmouth ended.
