William Compton (courtier)
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Sir William Compton Kt |
|
|---|---|
| Born |
William Compton c. 1482 Compton, Warwickshire |
| Died | 30 June 1528 (aged 45–46) |
| Resting place |
Compton Wynyates, Warwickshire 52°04′26″N 1°31′07″W / 52.073980°N 1.518650°W |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Soldier and courtier |
| Spouse(s) | Werburga Brereton |
| Children | Peter Compton |
| Parent(s) | Edmund Compton Joan Aylworth |
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.
He married firstly, in May 1512, Werburga, the daughter of Sir John Brereton, and widow of Sir Francis Cheyney. They had a son and at least two daughters:
He married secondly, after 8 May 1522, Elizabeth Stonor, the daughter of Sir Walter Stonor and by her had at least one child.
On Henry's 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 King's 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 VIII's meeting with Francis I at the Field of the Cloth of Gold and at Gravelines for the king's 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.
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