William Compton - A figure in the Tudor court Sir William Compton (c. 1482 – 30 June 1528) was a soldier and one of the most prominent courtiers during the reign of Henry VIII of England. Compton was born around 1482, the only son and heir of Edmund Compton of Compton of Warwickshire and Joan, the daughter of Walter Aylworth. He was around eleven years of age when his father died in 1493, at which time he became a ward of Henry VII, who appointed him page to Prince Henry, duke of York. He was about nine years older than Henry, but the two became close friends. On Henrys accession in 1509, he was given the position of Groom of the Stool, the man who was in closest contact with the young king. The Groom waited on the king while he used the latrine or close stool, and was also in charge of linen and the Kings clothes, jewels and tableware. One of his duties, according to the courtier Elizabeth Amadas, was to procure women for his monarch and arrange trysts with them at his London home, in Thames Street. Compton was also the steward, or administrator, of several royal manors. Compton was knighted 25 September 1513 at Tournai, following the battle of the Spurs. He had been able to muster 578 soldiers for the campaign in France from the manors he stewarded, almost as many as all the other members of the Privy chamber raised in total. In 1521 he was present at Henry VIIIs meeting with Francis I at the Field of the Cloth of Gold and at Gravelines for the kings interview with Charles V. Compton served on the Scottish borders under the Earl of Surrey in 1523, and this appears to have been the only time he was far from the court. It was thought that his rival Wolsey contrived his being sent there, hoping to diminish his influence over the king. Though not a politician, Compton ultimately acquired significant influence over Henry when it came to granting land and favours to the aristocracy, and made a fortune himself. The offices he held included: Groom of the Bedchamber Chief Gentleman of the Bedchamber Chief Ranger of Windsor Great Park Groom of the Stool Constable of Gloucester Castle Constable of Sudeley Castle Constable of Warwick Castle Chancellor of Ireland, 1513–1516 Usher of the Black Rod, 4 February 1513 Sheriff of Hampshire, 1512–1513 Sheriff of Somersetshire and Dorsetshire, 1513–1514 High Sheriff of Worcestershire, 1516 to 1528 Under-treasurer of the Exchequer, 1525 He died 30 June 1528 of the sweating sickness which killed several courtiers including Anne Boleyns brother-in-law, Sir William Carey. He was buried in the chapel at Compton Wynyates. Photos are of Sir William Compton played by Kris Holden-Reid in the Tudors.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 09:55:39 +0000
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