William Chiffinch facts for kids
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William Chiffinch was an important person who worked for the kings of England a long time ago. He was a trusted helper and servant to King Charles II and later King James II. People knew him for being very good at his job and for helping the kings with many things behind the scenes.
William Chiffinch's Life
Early Life and Royal Service
William Chiffinch followed his older brother, Thomas, into working for the royal family. In 1662, he became a "page of the backstairs" for Queen Catherine of Braganza. This meant he was a personal assistant who helped with daily tasks for the Queen.
When his brother Thomas passed away in 1666, William took over many of his important jobs at court. He became the Surveyor of the King's Pictures, which meant he looked after the king's art collection. He also became a page of the bedchamber and the Keeper of the Privy Closet. These roles made him very close to King Charles II.
William became very important to King Charles II. He was known for being very clever and good at handling secret matters. He managed payments that the king received from France. King Charles often used William's homes in Whitehall and Windsor for private meetings. William is mentioned many times in the diary of Samuel Pepys, a famous writer from that time. From 1675 until he passed away, William was the Master of the Hawks, looking after the king's hunting birds.
Political Career
In 1680, William Chiffinch was made a justice of the peace for Berkshire. This meant he helped keep law and order in the area. From 1681, he held important jobs in the town of Windsor. In 1685, he was chosen without anyone opposing him to be a Member of Parliament for New Windsor. This meant he helped make laws for the country.
In February 1685, William was responsible for bringing a priest named John Huddleston to King Charles II. The king was very ill at the time. William continued to work for the royal family under King James II.
Later Years
After the Glorious Revolution in 1688, William Chiffinch was no longer favored by the new rulers. This was because people thought he still supported the old king, James II. He was removed from his job in Windsor in August 1689. After this, he lived a quieter life. When he passed away in November 1691, he was reported to be very wealthy. He had earned a lot of money from his jobs working for the kings.
Family
By 1662, William Chiffinch had married a woman named Barbara Nunn. They had one child, a daughter also named Barbara. Their daughter Barbara married Edward Villiers on December 17, 1681. She later became known as the Countess of Jersey.
