William Fitzwilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton

The Right Honourable The Earl of Southampton KG
Portrait of William Fitzwilliam, Earl of Southampton, by Hans Holbein the Younger
Treasurer of the Household
In office 1525–1537
Preceded by	Sir Thomas Boleyn
Succeeded by	Sir William Paulet

William FitzWilliam, 1st Earl of Southampton, KG (c.1490, Aldwark, North Riding of Yorkshire – 15 October 1542, Newcastle upon Tyne), English courtier and soldier, was the third son of Sir Thomas FitzWilliam of Aldwark and Lady Lucy Neville (daughter of the Marquess of Montagu).

His father died while FitzWilliam was in his infancy, and his mother remarried Sir Anthony Browne senior so that William was half-brother to Sir Anthony Browne. Probably as a result of this connection, he was chosen as a companion for Henry, Prince of Wales (later King Henry VIII) and brought up alongside him. After King Henry's coronation in 1509, he was made a Gentleman Usher and King's Cupbearer, and gradually rose at Court. He began his military career at sea, serving under the Marquess of Dorset in 1512 and Sir Edward Howard in the disastrous second attack on Brest. Unlike his commander, he escaped the debacle, but was badly injured by a crossbow bolt. He had recovered sufficiently to accompany the King into France as an Esquire of the Body, and was knighted on 25 September 1513, the day after the capture of Tournai. In November he married Mabel Clifford, daughter of the Lord Clifford, but the marriage would prove childless.

FitzWilliam achieved distinction as naval commander, as diplomat and as government minister. Much of his time as Vice-Admiral (1513–1525) and Admiral was spent keeping the Channel free from pirates, and he gained praise from Wolsey for his initiative in actions against the French In May 1522 England declared war on France. The Earl of Surrey planned to attack Havre de Grace in June and Morlaix on 1 July, which largely failed due to victually difficulties. Fitzwilliam was appointed as Vice-Admiral, so when Surrey abandoned the siege of Brest, he was left on station to blockade the port. The navy patrolled the Brittany coast for the next three months, but was unable to score a decisive victory with his Spanish allies. During the autumn the sea patrol campaign was abandoned with little achieved.