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William Chiffinch

1602 – 1691

English courtier and royal official

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About William Chiffinch

Lived 1602 – 1691 (aged 88–89). William Chiffinch was an English courtier, official and politician.

William Chiffinch (died November 1691) was an English royal page and politician. He was described by Joseph Woodfall Ebsworth as "a time-server and libertine, wasteful, unscrupulous, open to bribery and flattery". Chiffinch is mentioned frequently in the diary of Samuel Pepys. From 1675 until his death he was Master of the Hawks. He continued his roles in the royal household under James II until the Glorious Revolution of 1688, after which he fell out of favour with the new regime owing to suspicions of Jacobitism. He was replaced on the Windsor corporation in August 1689 and thereafter lived in relative obscurity. At the time of his death he was reported to be worth £20,000, having benefited greatly from his offices under the crown.

By 1662 he had married Barbara Nunn; their only child, Barbara, married Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey on 17 December 1681 and became an active Jacobite, being created suo jure Countess of Jersey by James Francis Edward Stuart in 1716.

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Important facts

Born
1602
Birth century
Died
1691
Occupation
Courtier, official, politician
Nationality
Positions held
Member of Parliament in the Parliament of England, Member of the 1685-87 Parliament

People in William Chiffinch's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Chiffinch's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Chiffinch?

English courtier and royal official

When was William Chiffinch born?

William Chiffinch was born in 1602.

When did William Chiffinch die?

William Chiffinch died in 1691.

What was William Chiffinch's occupation?

William Chiffinch was a courtier, official and politician.

What nationality was William Chiffinch?

William Chiffinch was English.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Chiffinch

· Wikidata: Q18531103

· DBpedia: William Chiffinch

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Chiffinch. https://biography.guide/william-chiffinch/

MLA: "William Chiffinch." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-chiffinch/.

Chicago: "William Chiffinch." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-chiffinch/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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