Ronald Syme has strongly suggested that Paulinus is the father of the identically named Gaius Valerius Paullinus, suffect consul in 107.
[1] Valerius Paulinus first appears in history during the Year of Four Emperors while procurator or overseer of the imperial properties in Gallia Narbonensis.
As Tacitus tells us, following the defeat of the Othonian forces in the Battle of Bedriacum, Fabius Valens left Italy by ship to raise troops in Gaul.
He put in at Hercules Monoecus (modern Monaco) where he learned Paulinus, who was a friend of Vespasian, was blocking his path inland.
[3] From this position, Vespasian promoted him to prefect of Roman Egypt after Tiberius Julius Lupus died in office; Guido Bastianini dates his tenure to 74.