William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Most Honourable The Marquess of Winchester KG PC
Paulet, holding the white staff of the office of Lord High Treasurer
Lord High Steward for the trial of the Duke of Somerset
In office October 1551 – November 1551
Monarch	Edward VI
Chancellor	Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
In office 1547–1547
Monarch	Edward VI
Preceded by	Thomas Wriothesley, 1st Earl of Southampton
Succeeded by	Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich
Lord High Treasurer
In office 3 February 1550 – 10 March 1572
Monarch	Edward VI Mary I Elizabeth I
Chancellor	See The Lord Rich (1550–1551) Thomas Goodrich, Bishop of Ely (1551–1553) Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester (1553–1555) Nicholas Heath, Archbishop of York (1555–1558) Sir Nicholas Bacon (1558–1579) (as Lord Keeper)
Preceded by	Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
Succeeded by	William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
Lord President of the Council
In office January 1546 – 3 February 1550
Monarch	Henry VIII Edward VI
Chancellor	The Lord Rich
Preceded by	Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk
Succeeded by	John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
Lord Steward of the Household
In office 1544–1551
Monarch	Henry VIII Edward VI
Preceded by	Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk
Succeeded by	John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
Lord Chamberlain of the Household
In office 1543–1555
Monarch	Henry VIII Edward VI Mary I
Preceded by	William Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys
Succeeded by	Unknown
Treasurer of the Household
In office 1537–1539
Monarch	Henry VIII
Preceded by	William FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton
Succeeded by	Sir Thomas Cheney
Comptroller of the Household
In office 1532–1537
Monarch	Henry VIII
Preceded by	Sir Henry Guildford
Succeeded by	John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford
1st Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire
In office 1551–1553
Monarch	Henry VIII
Preceded by	None (office created)
Succeeded by	Office vacant
High Sheriff of Hampshire
In office 1511–1512
Monarch	Henry VIII
Preceded by	Richard Sands
Succeeded by	Sir William Compton
In office 1518–1519
Monarch	Henry VIII
Preceded by	John Lisley
Succeeded by	John Kaleway
In office 1522–1523
Monarch	Henry VIII
Preceded by	William Giffard
Succeeded by	Robert Wallop
Member of Parliament for Hampshire
In office 1529–1536 Serving with Sir Richard Sandys
Monarch	Henry VIII
Preceded by	Unknown
Succeeded by	Thomas Wriothesley
Constituency	Hampshire
Personal details
Born	William Paulet c.1483 Fisherton Delamere, Wiltshire
Died	10 March 1572(1572-03-10) (aged 88–89) Basing House, Basing
Resting place	St. Mary's Church, Basing, Hampshire 51°16′17″N 1°02′48″W / 51.271389°N 1.046667°W / 51.271389; -1.046667
Nationality	English
Spouse	Elizabeth Capel
Children	John Paulet, 2nd Marquess of Winchester Thomas Paulet Chidiok Paulet Giles Paulet Alice Stawell Lady Margaret Berkeley Lady Margery Waller Lady Eleanor Pecksall
Parents	Sir John Paulet (father) Alice Paulet (mother)
Residences	Basing House, Basing
Awards	Knight of the Order of the Garter Several Hereditary peerages
The 1st Marquess of Winchester Arms of William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester, KG: Sable, three swords pilewise points in base proper pomels and hilts or Title 1st Marquess of Winchester Tenure 11 October 1551 - 10 March 1572 Other titles 1st Earl of Wiltshire 1st Baron St John of Basing ← Predecessor None (titles created) Successor John Paulet, 2nd Marquess of Winchester →

Arms of William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester, KG, surrounded by the Garter.

William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester (born around 1483/1485 – died 10 March 1572) was an important English politician. He held many high-ranking jobs for several kings and queens. He was known for being very adaptable, which helped him stay in power for a long time.

Early Life and Family Background

William Paulet was the oldest son of Sir John Paulet and Alice Paulet. His family came from a place called Paulet in Somerset, England. They also had a home at Basing House in Hampshire.

There is some debate about exactly when William was born, but it was likely around 1483 or 1485. He might have been born in Fisherton Delamere in Wiltshire.

William's father was a knight who fought in a rebellion in 1497. The Paulet family gained their lands in Hampshire through a marriage many years before. William himself started his career in Hampshire. He was the High Sheriff of Hampshire several times in the early 1500s. A High Sheriff was a local official responsible for law and order. He was made a knight before 1525 and joined the Privy Council (a group of royal advisors) that same year.

William Paulet's Family

William Paulet married Elizabeth Capel, whose father was a Lord Mayor of London. They had eight children together:

• John Paulet, who later became the 2nd Marquess of Winchester
• Thomas
• Chidiock Paulet, who was a governor of Southampton
• Giles
• Alice
• Margaret
• Margery
• Eleanor

A Long Career in Government

William Paulet had a very long and successful career in English government. He served under four different monarchs: Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. This was unusual because the country went through many big changes during this time, especially with religion.

A small portrait of William Paulet from around 1555.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Paulet held many important positions, including:

• Member of Parliament for Hampshire (1529–1536): This meant he represented his local area in the English Parliament.
• Comptroller of the Household (1532–1537) and Treasurer of the Household (1537–1539): These roles involved managing the royal household's finances and staff.
• Lord Chamberlain of the Household (1543–1545): He was in charge of the royal court and its ceremonies.
• Lord Steward of the Household (1545–1550): Another high-ranking role in the royal household.
• Lord President of the Council (1546–1549): He led the King's most important advisory group, the Privy Council.
• Lord Keeper of the Great Seal (1547): This person was responsible for the Great Seal of England, which was used to make official documents legal.
• Lord High Treasurer (1550–1572): This was one of the most powerful jobs. He was in charge of the country's money and finances for over 20 years.
• Lord High Steward (1551): He oversaw important trials, like the one for the Duke of Somerset.
• Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire (1552, 1553, 1559): This role involved leading the military forces in his home county.
• Speaker of the House of Lords (1558 and 1566): He led discussions in the House of Lords, part of the Parliament.

Rising Through the Ranks

William Paulet's political journey began when he became a Member of Parliament in 1529. He traveled with King Henry VIII to France and became close to important figures like Thomas Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell.

In 1539, he was given the title of Baron St John. He also became the master of the King's Court of Wards and Liveries, which managed the estates of young heirs. In 1543, he was made a Knight of the Garter, a very special honor.

After King Henry VIII died, Paulet continued to be powerful under King Edward VI. He supported the Earl of Warwick (who later became the Duke of Northumberland). Because of this support, in 1550, he was made the Earl of Wiltshire and took over the important job of Lord Treasurer. A year later, he became the Marquess of Winchester.

Adapting to Change

Paulet was famous for his ability to adapt to the changing times, especially during the English Reformation. This was a period when England changed its official religion several times.

• He started as a Catholic but quickly supported King Henry VIII when the King broke away from the Pope. He even gained land from the dissolution of the monasteries (when Henry VIII closed down religious houses).
• Under King Edward VI, who was a Protestant, Paulet became a strong supporter of Protestantism.
• When Catholic Queen Mary I came to power, he quickly changed back to Catholicism and kept his high positions.
• Finally, when Queen Elizabeth I, a Protestant, became queen, he again adapted and supported her middle-ground approach to religion.

People often wondered how he managed to stay in power through so many changes. He once said, "By being a willow, not an oak." This means he was flexible and bent with the wind, instead of being rigid and breaking. Queen Elizabeth I even joked about how much she valued him, saying she would consider marrying him if he were younger!

Later Life and Death

William Paulet remained in his important job as Lord Treasurer until he died. He passed away on 10 March 1572, at a very old age, at his home, Basing House. He had spent time rebuilding and strengthening this house. He is buried in the church at Basing.

Images for kids

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  Sir William Paulet, detail of portrait