William Paget (died 23 March 1752) was an English actor and author in the 18th century who played alongside

David Garrick David Garrick (19 February 1717 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil and friend of Sa ...

and was a member of

John Rich John Rich (born January 7, 1974) is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist. After d ...

's company, playing in the first season of

Theatre Royal, Covent Garden The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal Ope ...

(1732). He was also an eminent

tobacconist A tobacconist, also called a tobacco shop, a tobacconist's shop or a smoke shop, is a retailer of tobacco products in various forms and the related accoutrements, such as pipes, lighters, matches, pipe cleaners, and pipe tampers. More specia ...

on Fleet Street, London. Toward the end of his life he served time in Fleet Prison, writing the poem " The Humours of the Fleet" among others. He then agreed to participate in the establishment of

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348,634 people in its urban area. The ...

, dying there in 1752.

Career

His father, "the son of Dance", was a mason and architect and is reported to have built Buckingham House (which would become

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...

). In 1730 Paget was cast as Mirza in the first Masonic opera, the libretto written by

William Rufus Chetwood William Rufus Chetwood (died 1766) was an English or Anglo-Irish publisher and bookseller, and a prolific writer of plays and adventure novels. He also penned a valuable ''General History of the Stage''. Publishing and prompting Nothing certain i ...

, entitled ''The Generous Freemason; or, The Constant Lady. With Humours of Squire Noodle and his Man Doodle''. The opera was performed at Oates and

Henry Fielding Henry Fielding (22 April 1707 – 8 October 1754) was an English novelist, irony writer, and dramatist known for earthy humour and satire. His comic novel '' Tom Jones'' is still widely appreciated. He and Samuel Richardson are seen as founders ...

's Great Theatrical Booth at the George Inn Yard in Smithfield, during the time of

Bartholomew Fair The Bartholomew Fair was one of London's pre-eminent summer charter fairs. A charter for the fair was granted to Rahere by Henry I to fund the Priory of St Bartholomew; and from 1133 to 1855 it took place each year on 24 August within the precin ...

. He also played at Southwark Fair. In the same year, 27 June 1730, Paget played

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cypru ...

at Haymarket, having arrived from the theatre of Dublin. In the 1730–1731 season, he joined the

Drury Lane Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster. Notable landmarks ...

company, when he played Peachum in

John Gay John Gay (30 June 1685 – 4 December 1732) was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for ''The Beggar's Opera'' (1728), a ballad opera. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly Peac ...

's ''

Beggar's Opera ''The Beggar's Opera'' is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of satiri ...

''. He played in John Rich's company for the 1731–1733 seasons at

Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre Lisle's Tennis Court was a building off Portugal Street in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London. Originally built as a real tennis court, it was used as a playhouse during two periods, 1661–1674 and 1695–1705. During the early period, ...

and later Covent Garden. In 1733–1734 he returned to Drury Lane.

Henry Giffard's Company, Goodman's Fields Theatre

After that he played Covent Garden, the Haymarket,

Goodman's Fields Theatre Two 18th century theatres bearing the name Goodman's Fields Theatre were located on Alie Street, Whitechapel, London. The first opened on 31 October 1727 in a small shop by Thomas Odell, deputy Licenser of Plays. The first play performed was G ...

, and at Richmond and Dublin. At Goodman's he played Longman in

Henry Giffard Henry Giffard (1694–1772) was a British stage actor and theatre manager. Early life Although there is some uncertainty about his early years, he is described as being the son of William Giffard. Born in London – in Lincoln's Inn Fields by s ...

's (1694–1772) play ''Pamela: A comedy, etc.''. In 1736–37, Paget played Duke of Albany in ''

King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane an ...

'' at Covent Garden. In June 1741, Henry Giffard took a small group of actors to present a summer season at Tunkard Street Theatre,

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and borough in Suffolk, England, of which it is the county town. The town is located in East Anglia about away from the mouth of the River Orwell and the North Sea. Ipswich is both on the Great Eastern Main Line r ...

. Both Paget and Garrick (the latter just joined the company at age 24) were part of the company. Paget wrote ''A Voyage to

'' to open the plays, which includes a commemoration of Admiral

Edward Vernon Admiral Edward Vernon (12 November 1684 – 30 October 1757) was an English naval officer. He had a long and distinguished career, rising to the rank of admiral after 46 years service. As a vice admiral during the War of Jenkins' Ear, in 1 ...

and his victory at Battle of Porto Bello. Garrick debut poster

In October 1741, Paget played Lord Stanley in ''Richard III'', which marked the rise to fame of David Garrick in the lead role. In November 1741, Paget played Judge Guttle in David Garrick's own play ''

The Lying Valet ''The Lying Valet'' is a British play by David Garrick. A farce, it was first performed at the Goodman's Fields Theatre Two 18th century theatres bearing the name Goodman's Fields Theatre were located on Alie Street, Whitechapel, London. T ...

''. In 1742, Paget played Gripe the miser in John Hippisley and Thomas Chapman's play ''Scaramouch scapin, or the Old Miser Caught in a Sack. With the Comical Tricks, Shifts and Chests of Scapin's Three Companions''. In 1742 and returning to the role in 1746, Paget played Earl of Kent in ''King Lear'', with Garrick playing King Lear.

John Rich's Company, Covent Garden

Under John Rich's management, in June 1746 at Covent Garden Paget played

Polonius Polonius is a character in William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet''. He is chief counsellor of the play's ultimate villain, Claudius, and the father of Laertes and Ophelia. Generally regarded as wrong in every judgment he makes over the course of ...

in ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'' opposite Garrick who played Hamlet and

Edward Shuter Edward Shuter (c. 1728–1776) was an English actor. Life Shuter was born in London to poor parents. He made his first appearance on the London stage in 1745 in Cibber's ''Schoolboy''. He made a great reputation in old men's parts. He was ...

who played the grave digger. In October 1746, Paget played Alonzo in Giffard's production of ''Revenge''; he also played again in ''The Lying Valet'' and in ''

Henry IV, Part 1 ''Henry IV, Part 1'' (often written as ''1 Henry IV'') is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. The play dramatises part of the reign of King Henry IV of England, beginning with the battle at ...

'', as

Falstaff Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare and is eulogised in a fourth. His significance as a fully developed character is primarily formed in the plays '' Henry IV, Part 1'' and '' Part 2'', w ...

. In November 1748, at Covent Garden, he played Shallow in a production of ''

Merry Wives of Windsor ''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' or ''Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to have been written in or before 1597. The Windsor of the play's title is a ref ...

''. In March 1749, at Covent Garden Paget played in ''Henry IV'', as Mowbray.

Halifax

Paget eventually was imprisoned in a

sponging-house A sponging-house (more formally: a lock-up house) was a place of temporary confinement for debtors in the United Kingdom. If a borrower defaulted on repaying a debt, a creditor could lay a complaint with the sheriff. The sheriff sent his bailiff ...

because of debt. He then was sent to Fleet Prison in London and later released because of the Insolvent Debtors Relief, etc. Act 1747 c. 33. The following year he published ''The Humours of the Fleet'', the title being a play on both The Rules of the Fleet and James Miller's popular play ''

The Humours of Oxford ''The Humours of Oxford'' is a 1730 comedy play by the British writer James Miller. It was Miller's debut play, inspired by his time at Wadham College, and proved popular. The plot is set around Oxford University and portrays the academics as ov ...

''.The Fleet: Its River, Prison, and Marriages By John Ashton, p. 279
/ref> Along with many other English immigrants, Paget then moved to Halifax to escape his debt. Paget died soon after he arrived (1752), leaving his wife and four children.

Publications

A Voyage to Ipswich. 1744

The Humours of the Fleet. 1749

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paget, William 1752 deaths English male stage actors 18th-century English male actors Inmates of Fleet Prison People imprisoned for debt