William Paston, 2nd Earl of Yarmouth facts for kids
William Paston, 2nd Earl of Yarmouth (1654 – 25 December 1732) was an important British noble and politician. He lived at Oxnead in Norfolk and Turnham Green in Middlesex.
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William Paston was born in 1654. His parents were Robert Paston, the 1st Earl of Yarmouth, and Rebecca Clayton. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1683, when his father passed away, William became the 2nd Earl of Yarmouth. He also inherited his family's estate, including Oxnead Hall.
Early Political Life
Paston was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Norwich in 1678. A Member of Parliament is someone elected to represent people in the country's government. In 1679, his father became an Earl. Because of this, William started to be called Lord Paston. He continued to represent Norwich until he inherited his father's title.
Changes in Religion and Roles
William Paston changed his religion to Roman Catholicism. In February 1687, King James II gave him an important job. He was made Treasurer of the Household, which meant he managed the king's money and expenses. He also became a joint Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire in 1688. A Lord-Lieutenant is the King's personal representative in a county.
However, in 1689, he changed his religion back to Anglicanism. When William and Mary became the new King and Queen that year, William Paston refused to promise his loyalty to them. Because of this, he lost all his important jobs.
Later Years
People thought William Paston might be supporting the old king, James II. This was called Jacobitism. Because of these suspicions, he was put in prison two times. Even so, he was allowed to join the House of Lords in 1696. The House of Lords is part of the British Parliament. For a short time in 1719, he was also the Vice-Admiral of Norfolk. This role involved looking after naval matters in the county.
In 1722, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a group of important scientists and thinkers.
Family Life
William Paston passed away on December 25, 1732, in Epsom, Surrey. He was 78 years old. He had a lot of debt when he died.
In 1671, he married Charlotte FitzRoy. She was the daughter of King Charles II. They had four children who lived past childhood. Only one of them was still alive when William Paston died:
- Charles Paston, Lord Paston (1673–1718)
- Lady Charlotte Paston (1675–1736), who married Thomas Herne.
- Lady Rebecca Paston (1681–1726), who married Sir John Holland, 2nd Baronet.
- Hon. William Paston (1682–1711)
His first wife, Charlotte, died in 1684. In March 1687, he married Elizabeth Wiseman. She was the daughter of Dudley North, 4th Baron North.
William Paston's sons, brothers, and their male children all passed away before him. Because of this, his special titles ended when he died. His estate, which had many debts, had to be sold.
See also
- Paston, Norfolk
