William Paget (actor)

Fleet Prison – front piece for Paget's The Humours of the Fleet[1]

William Paget (died 23 March 1752) was an English actor and author in the 18th century who played alongside David Garrick and was a member of John Rich's company, playing in the first season of Theatre Royal, Covent Garden (1732).[2] He was also an eminent tobacconist 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.[3][4] He then agreed to participate in the establishment of Halifax, Nova Scotia, dying there in 1752.[5][6]

  1. ^ Catalogue of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum: pt. I., p. 757
  2. ^ The Plays of David Garrick: Garrick's own plays, 1767-1775, p. 374
  3. ^ The Humours of the Fleet. 1749
  4. ^ p. 726
  5. ^ Halifax Gazette. 1752.
  6. ^ Governor Edward Cornwallis reported the initial English settlers were "poor, idle, worthless vagabonds that embrace the opportunity to get provisions for one year without labour.... Many are without shirts, shoes or stockings." (Cornwallis to Board of Trade 24 July 1949).