Sir Robert Throckmorton, 8th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert George Throckmorton, 8th Baronet (5 December 1800 - 28 June 1862) was an English Whig and Liberal
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1831 to 1835.
Throckmorton was the son of William Throckmorton and his wife Frances Gifford, daughter of Thomas Gifford of Chillington. The Throckmortons were a prominent Catholic family, who continued to hear mass at the family home Coughton Court. In 1826 the family estate at Molland deveolved to Throckmorton when his uncle succeeded to the baronetcy. The Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 allowed Catholics to hold national office for the first time in almost three hundred years.
Throckmorton took advantage of the change in the law to become one of the first Catholic MPs. At the 1831 general election
he was elected Member of Parliament
(MP) for Berkshire
. He held the seat until 1835. He also became a J.P.
and Deputy Lieutenant
for Berkshire
. He was High Sheriff of Berkshire
in 1843.
Throckmorton inherited the baronetcy
in 1840 on the death of his uncle Sir Charles Throckmorton, 7th Baronet. He built a new Catholic church at the end of the south drive of Coughton Court, next to the ruins of the church built by an earlier Throckmorton in the 15th century which was confiscated from the family during the Reformation.
Throckmorton died at the age of 61.
Throckmorton married Elizabeth Acton, daughter of Sir John Acton, 6th Baronet
of Aldenham on 16 July 1829.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1831 to 1835.
Throckmorton was the son of William Throckmorton and his wife Frances Gifford, daughter of Thomas Gifford of Chillington. The Throckmortons were a prominent Catholic family, who continued to hear mass at the family home Coughton Court. In 1826 the family estate at Molland deveolved to Throckmorton when his uncle succeeded to the baronetcy. The Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 allowed Catholics to hold national office for the first time in almost three hundred years.
Throckmorton took advantage of the change in the law to become one of the first Catholic MPs. At the 1831 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1831
The 1831 general election in the United Kingdom saw a landslide win by supporters of electoral reform, which was the major election issue. As a result it was the last unreformed election, as the Parliament which resulted ensured the passage of the Reform Act 1832. Polling was held from 28 April to...
he was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Berkshire
Berkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Berkshire was a parliamentary constituency in England, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885...
. He held the seat until 1835. He also became a J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. He was High Sheriff of Berkshire
High Sheriff of Berkshire
The High Sheriff of Berkshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times. The word Sheriff evolved from 'shire-reeve'....
in 1843.
Throckmorton inherited the baronetcy
Throckmorton Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for different branches of the Throckmorton family, 6th. cousins, both descended from Sir John Throckmorton, Under-Treasurer of England temp. King Henry VI. Both titles, which were in the Baronetage of England, are now extinct...
in 1840 on the death of his uncle Sir Charles Throckmorton, 7th Baronet. He built a new Catholic church at the end of the south drive of Coughton Court, next to the ruins of the church built by an earlier Throckmorton in the 15th century which was confiscated from the family during the Reformation.
Throckmorton died at the age of 61.
Throckmorton married Elizabeth Acton, daughter of Sir John Acton, 6th Baronet
Sir John Acton, 6th Baronet
Sir John Francis Edward Acton, 6th Baronet was commander of the naval forces of Grand Duchy of Tuscany and prime minister of Naples under Ferdinand IV....
of Aldenham on 16 July 1829.