A Wetpaint Site

William Compton

See also: The Tudors Cast | The Tudors Episode Guide

<<Back to The Tudors Characters

Sir William Compton as played by Kris Holden-Reid

Born : circa 1482 - died: June 1528

Character's backstory: William Compton became a ward of the crown when his father Edmund died, as was the custom. At the court of Henry VII the eleven-year-old orphan became a page to the two-year-old Prince Henry. Thus began a close friendship which continued after the prince succeeded as King Henry VIII.
*This is a fictional character loosely based on a historical one.

Gentility: Son of Sir Edmund Compton, a Knight.

Position: Chief Ranger of Windsor Great Park, Groom of the Stole/Stool (the gentleman in charge of the King's personal toilet and Keeper of the Privy Purse), Chief Gentleman of the Bedchamber, Usher of the Black Rod, Constableship of Warwick Castle, Chancellor of Ireland (although he never set foot there)
Sir Bernard Burke (genealogist) states : 'This great man, one of the most eminent of his time, had estates in 20 counties in England'
As a result of this lifelong friendship, Henry VIII gave William, who was also to become a military hero, many rewards, amongst them the ruinous Fulbroke Castle from which Compton Wynates, the Compton family home was built. (see below)

Personality type: Sympathetic, gentle confidant of the King's circle of friends. Always ready to hear others' problems and give gentle advice.

Signature look: 'Soigné'--having a look that is always stylish and elegant (well 'put together'); tall, blond and slender; graceful.

Endearing Traits: Gentle; soft-spoken; kind; intelligent and perceptive. Good sense of humor.

Annoying Traits: None

Want to edit this character profile?

Click EasyEdit to update this page! (Don't see the EasyEdit button above? Sign in or Sign up.)

CHARACTER CONNECTIONS

Family members:
Father: Sir Edmund Compton
Mother: Joan Aylworth

Wives:
Warburga Brereton
Elizabeth Stonor

Children : Peter and Catherine Compton

Romances:
Musician Thomas Tallis on the show *There is no known historical record of this
Associated with Ann Stafford (Anna Buckingham), Lady Hastings (possibly on Henry's behalf) - in the series she is fictionally portrayed as his common-law wife who grieves over his body and then contracts the sweating sickness herself and dies.

Friends:
King Henry VIII,
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk,
Anthony Knivert, Thomas Tallis,

Enemies: None known

UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER QUOTES

"You think, just not with your head." (Episode 5- Showtime)

"No, I was just listening. You have such a talent. Orpheus himself would be jealous, I think" (Episode 5- Showtime)

"You know very well she's not my wife. I never believed that love should be bound by doctrine."

"Your Majesty, may I make a suggestion? Forget the court! Let's go to the woods. Let's go for a hunt, like we used to do."

"Say yes."

DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES

Episode 5- Compton meets Brandon at a tavern and first finds out that Brandon has married Princess Margaret.

Episode 6- Brandon suggests that he and Henry go for a hunt. When Anne Boleyn joins them, he first realizes how much the King is in love.

PHOTOS



ELIZABETH STONOR (d. August 25,1560) Elizabeth Stonor was the daughter of Sir Walter Stonor (d.1550), Lord Lieutenant of the Tower, and Anne Foliot. There is some confusion over her first marriage, but she seems to have been the second wife of Sir William Compton (d.1528) and then married Walter Walshe (d.1538), a courtier by whom she had Walter, Margaret, Frances, and possibly other children, in 1529. After Walshe’s death, she married Sir Philip Hoby (1505-May 29,1558) in 1540. She was part of Queen Catherine Parr’s inner circle. Portrait: Holbein’s drawing of “Lady Hobbei” was done about 1539 and is in the Royal Library at Windsor.	Compton Wynyates, where the Compton family still lives to this day, circa 1925. Compton Wynyates was built from the ruins of Fulbroke Castle, which was given to William by Henry. King Henry VIII stayed many times at Compton Wynyates, and his bedroom window still retains the king's arms in a stained glass window. Henry's arms are combined with the arms of Aragon--the home country of his first Queen, Katherine.

See also: The Tudors Cast | The Tudors Episode Guide

<<Back to The Tudors Characters

KingHenryVIII	Latest page update: made by KingHenryVIII , Sep 28 2009, 12:23 PM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by KingHenryVIII view changes - complete history)
	Keyword tags: anne boleyn charles brandon gabrielle anwar henry viii jeremy northam jonathan rhys meyers margaret tudor natalie dormer sam neill showtime the tudors the tudors tudors characters More Info: links to this page

Threads for this page

chopin

William Compton

Dec 15 2008, 9:23 PM EST by MISSSALLY

Thread started: Feb 19 2008, 9:43 PM EST Watch

i bought the first session after i heared about the it, and i'm watching it every day. i find that Kris Holden-Reid is more than a wonderfull actor, hi is effective

3 out of 3 found this valuable. Do you?

Keyword tags:

Post reply

Show Last Reply

Larentia

How is it that William Compton has no threads?

Dec 8 2008, 11:11 PM EST by PollyChoral

Thread started: Feb 6 2008, 9:30 PM EST Watch

I started watching The Tudors at the beginning and one thing surprised me. This character that Kris Holden-Reid played. Absolute darling, in my opinion, even with his lust for the little musician.