William Acton (c. 1513 – 1567) ofAldenham inShropshire was an English politician who served in the parliament ofKingdom of England.
Acton sat in two ofQueen Mary's fiveParliaments forBridgnorth in Shropshire in April 1554 and 1555.[1] Both times he was aMember of Parliament together with his distant kinsman, Jerome Horde. Acton joinedReginald Corbet and others from Shropshire in opposing a government bill in 1555.
Acton came from a family of lawyers. His eldest son may have studied law, but it's not known if Acton obtained a legal education. Acton had a close connection to Reginald Corbet and Roger Smith, Corbet helped Acton's son admission to theMiddle Temple in 1552. Smith, related to Acton by marriage, promoted him from Bridgnorth in the two Edwardian Parliaments.[1]
Acton was the only surviving son of Thomas Acton and Elizabeth Dryland. Acton married Cecily Cresset, daughter of Richard Cresset ofUpton Cressett in Shropshire, by 1534. Acton died on 7 May 1567 and was succeeded by his son Robert.
Acton had the following descendants:[2]
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