William Gonson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vice-Admiral Sir William Gonson
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 1482 Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England |
| Died | 1544 London, England |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  England |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1513–1544 |
| Rank | Vice-Admiral |
| Commands held | Vice-Admiral of Norfolk Vice-Admiral of Suffolk Clerk of Marine Causes Treasurer of the Navy Keeper of the Storehouses Captain Mary Grace |
Sir William Gonson (1482–1544) was an important leader in the English Royal Navy. He served as a Vice-Admiral and helped manage the navy for King Henry VIII. He was like a top manager and judge for the navy.
Contents
Sir William Gonson's Life
William Gonson started his career as a private businessman and Shipbuilder during the Tudor times. He built ships for the navy in the royal shipyards. This experience helped him prepare for his naval career.
In April 1513, he became the captain of a ship called the Mary Grace. This was an important step in his journey.
William Gonson held several important jobs in the English navy. These roles helped King Henry VIII build a stronger navy.
- Clerk of Marine Causes: From 1523 to 1533, he was in charge of keeping records and managing the navy's daily business.
- Treasurer of the Navy: From 1524 until his death in 1544, he was the navy's chief financial officer. He managed all the money.
- Keeper of the Storehouses: From 1524 to 1537, he oversaw the navy's supplies and equipment at Erith Dockyard and Deptford Dockyard.
He was also appointed Vice-Admiral of Norfolk and Suffolk in 1536. This meant he was a senior naval officer in those coastal areas. He helped the King organize and develop what later became known as the Navy Board.
William Gonson's Family
William Gonson was born in Melton Mowbray, England. His parents were Christopher and Elizabeth Gonson. He had a brother named Bartholomew.
William married Bennett Walters. They had a large family with six sons and four daughters:
- Sons: Anthony, Arthur, Benjamin, Christopher, David, and Richard.
- Daughters: Avis, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Thomasine.
His son, Benjamin Gonson, followed in his father's footsteps. Benjamin also had a career in the English navy and later became the Treasurer of the Navy, just like his father.
Another son, Sir David Gonson, was a Knight of Malta. He was a very religious man. He was declared "Blessed" by Pope Pius XI in 1929.
William Gonson was buried in the church of St Dunstan-in-the-East in London.
