William Compton (courtier)

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Sir William Compton was one of the most prominent courtiers during the reign of Henry VIII of England. Born around 1482, Compton was about nine years older than his king, but the two became close friends. Compton was the eldest son of Edmund Compton of Warwickshire and became an attendant on young Henry.^[1] On Henry's accession, he was given the position of Groom of the Stool, the man who was in closest contact to the young king. 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.^[2].

In 1510, Compton was involved in a public row with Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham over Henry's affair with Anne Stafford, Countess of Huntingdon, the Duke's sister. Around 1519, Compton became involved with Anne himself, and in 1522 he wrote his will making provision for her. The year before, in 1521, Henry had sent Compton to arrest his lover's brother, who was executed for treason, perhaps to test Compton's loyalty. Compton was not a politican, yet acuired a huge influence over Henry when it came to granting land and favours to the aristocracy. He made a fortune himself. He died in 1528, probably of the Sweating Sickness which killed several courtiers including Anne Boleyn's brother-in-law, Sir William Carey.