Robert Paston 1631-1683

Biographical Note

Son of Sir William Paston, of Oxnead Hall, Norfolk. Matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge 1646, but did not graduate. In 1660 he was knighted and elected MP for Thetford. He was elected MP for Castle Rising the following year and held this seat until 1673. In 1663 he succeeded his father as second baronet and was accepted as an Original Fellow of the Royal Society. Created Viscount Yarmouth in 1673, appointed Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk in 1676, created Viscount Yarmouth in 1673 and the 1st Earl of Yarmouth in 1679.

Books

Sir William began the development of the family library (and other collections), continued by Robert. The books were auctioned in London, 10.4.1734 (1513 lots).

Sources

• History of Parliament.
• Moore, A. et al (eds), The Paston treasure: microcosm of the known world, 2018.
• West, S. The development of libraries in Norfolk country houses (UEA Ph.D thesis, 2000).