Paget, William, 1st Baron Paget

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Paget, William, 1st Baron Paget (1505–63). Paget, founder of a distinguished aristocratic family, was of modest origins. He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where Stephen Gardiner, later bishop of Winchester, was master, and began his career in Gardiner's service. He acted as secretary to Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves, as ambassador to France, and then as secretary of state 1543–7. After Henry VIII's death, Paget allied with Protector Somerset, was given the Garter, and served as chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster and as comptroller of the household. He was in disgrace in 1552 and degraded from the Garter, but restored to favour by Mary, whom he served as lord privy seal 1556–8. He retired from public life at the accession of Elizabeth.

J. A. Cannon