Lord Alfred Henry Paget | |
|---|---|
 Caricature by Ape published in Vanity Fair in 1875. | |
| Member of Parliament for Lichfield | |
| In office 1837–1865 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Edward Scott, Bt Sir George Anson |
| Succeeded by | Richard Dyott Augustus Anson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 June 1816 |
| Died | 24 August 1888 (aged 72) Inverness, Scotland |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse |
Cecilia Wyndham
(after 1847) |
| Children | 14 |
| Parent(s) | Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey Hon. Charlotte Cadogan |
| Residence | Melford Hall |
Lord Alfred Henry Paget CB (26 June 1816 – 24 August 1888[1]) was a British soldier, courtier and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1837 and 1865.
Paget was the sixth son of William Paget, the 1st Marquess of Anglesey and the former Hon. Charlotte Cadogan. Among his siblings were Lady Emily Paget (wife of John Townshend, 1st Earl Sydney), Lord Clarence Paget, Lady Mary Paget (wife of John Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich), Lord George Paget, and Lady Adelaide Paget (wife of Frederick William Cadogan).[2]
From his father's first marriage to Lady Caroline Villiers (a daughter of George Villiers, 4th Earl of Jersey and later, Duchess of Argyll), he had several older half-siblings, including Lady Caroline Paget (wife of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond), Henry Paget, 2nd Marquess of Anglesey, Lady Jane Paget (wife of Francis Conyngham, 2nd Marquess Conyngham), Lady Georgina Paget (wife of Edward Crofton, 2nd Baron Crofton), Lady Augusta Paget (wife of Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Templemore), Lord William Paget, Lady Agnes Paget (wife of George Byng, 2nd Earl of Strafford).[2] From his mother's first marriage to Henry Wellesley, 1st Baron Cowley, he had four half-siblings, including Henry Wellesley, 1st Earl Cowley, William Henry George Wellesley, Hon. Charlotte Wellesley (wife of Robert Grosvenor, 1st Baron Ebury), and Gerald Valerian Wellesley.[3]
He became a lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards. In 1837 he was elected Member of Parliament for Lichfield and held the seat until 1865,[1] when he was defeated by the Conservative Richard Dyott.[4]
Paget was Chief Equerry and Clerk Marshal to the Queen from July 1846 to March 1852, from December 1852 to March 1858, and from June 1859. The office ceased to be a political one from 1866.[5]
He was the Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, 1846–1873, and Vice-Commodore, 1845-1846 and 1874–1888.[6][7]
On 1 August 1874, he resigned the Chief Equerryship only.[8] He became a Lieutenant-Colonel (unattached) in 1854.[9]
Paget was a director of the North Staffordshire Railway Company between January 1854 and February 1875.[9]
In 1847, Paget was married to Cecilia Wyndham (1829–1914), second daughter and co-heiress of George Thomas Wyndham, of Cromer Hall, Norfolk. Their children were:[9]
He lived at 42 Grosvenor Place, London, and at Melford Hall, Sudbury, Suffolk. He died in 1888 unexpectedly, on his yacht off Inverness.[14]
In the television series Victoria, Lord Alfred is played by Jordan Waller. In the second series, he was depicted having a same-sex romantic relationship with Sir Robert Peel's secretary, Edward Drummond. There is no historical evidence that this took place. In the same series, Lord Alfred marries Lady Wilhelmina Coke (the niece of the Duchess of Buccleuch); but in real life, Lord Alfred married Cecilia Wyndham.[15]