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Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey

(1875-1905), 'The Dancing Marquess'

Sitter in 1 portrait
Known as the 'Dancing Marquess', Henry Paget converted the chapel of Plas Newydd (renamed Anglesey Castle) into his own Gaiety Theatre. He squandered vast sums on the purchase of jewellery, luxurious goods and fantastic costumes for his theatrical extravaganzas, performed both at his home and on tour to parts of Britain and the Continent. At the time of his early death in 1905, just short of reaching his 30th birthday, The Bystander fulminated: 'His example will remain one of the strongest arguments against our hereditary system that the most ardent revolutionist would wish for,' and then drew the cruel comparison with his illustrious grandfather, the 1st Marquess, a gallant cavalry leader who had carried on at the Battle of Waterloo despite losing his leg. But the critics did concede that the Dancing Marquess was much loved by his estate workers and local people in Anglesey.

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