Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham
Encyclopedia
Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham of Laughton Bt
(1653–23 February 1712) was a moderate English
Whig
politician and Member of Parliament
for several constituencies. He is best remembered as father of two British prime ministers (Henry Pelham
and the Duke of Newcastle) who, between them, served for 18 years as first minister. Pelham was born in Laughton, Sussex
, the son of Sir John Pelham, 3rd Baronet
and his wife Lucy Sidney (daughter of Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester
). Pelham was educated at Tonbridge Grammar School
and Christ Church, Oxford
. He sat for East Grinstead
from October 1678 until August 1679. In October 1679 he was returned for Lewes
, serving until 1702 (when he was returned for both Lewes and Sussex
); he subsequently chose to sit for Sussex, a seat he held until 1705.
Pelham's wife Elizabeth died in October 1681. In 1686, he married Lady Grace Holles (daughter of Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare
), with whom he had two sons and five daughters:
Both of Pelham's sons went on to serve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
. He served as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury for three separate periods (March 1690–March 1692; May 1697–June 1699 and March 1701–May 1702); in 1706, he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Pelham of Laughton (having previously succeeded to his father's baronet
age in 1703).
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
(1653–23 February 1712) was a moderate English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
politician and 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,...
for several constituencies. He is best remembered as father of two British prime ministers (Henry Pelham
Henry Pelham
Henry Pelham was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 27 August 1743 until his death in 1754...
and the Duke of Newcastle) who, between them, served for 18 years as first minister. Pelham was born in Laughton, Sussex
Laughton, East Sussex
Laughton is a village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England. The village is located five miles east of Lewes, at a junction on the minor road to Hailsham . It appears in the Domesday Book, and there are Roman remains nearby.Education is provided at the Laughton Community...
, the son of Sir John Pelham, 3rd Baronet
Sir John Pelham, 3rd Baronet
Sir John Pelham, 3rd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England variously between 1644 and 1698.Pelham was the son of Sir Thomas Pelham, 2nd Baronet and his wife Mary Wilbraham....
and his wife Lucy Sidney (daughter of Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester
Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester
Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester was an English aristocrat and diplomat.-Life:He was the son of Robert Sidney, 1st Earl of Leicester, and his first wife, Barbara Gamage...
). Pelham was educated at Tonbridge Grammar School
Tonbridge Grammar School
Tonbridge Grammar School is a state school in Tonbridge, Kent, United Kingdom. There are approximately 1050 students ranging from 11 to 18 years. It was previously known as Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls but with the introduction of boys in the sixth form in 2002, the school changed its name...
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. He sat for East Grinstead
East Grinstead (UK Parliament constituency)
East Grinstead was a parliamentary constituency in the Kingdom of England, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. It first existed as a Parliamentary borough from 1307, returning two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons elected by the bloc vote system...
from October 1678 until August 1679. In October 1679 he was returned for Lewes
Lewes (UK Parliament constituency)
Lewes is a constituency located in East Sussex and centred on the town of Lewes. It is represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a safe Conservative seat until 1997, but the Liberal Democrats have gained a strong foothold.-Boundaries:The constituency is...
, serving until 1702 (when he was returned for both Lewes and Sussex
Sussex (UK Parliament constituency)
Sussex was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
); he subsequently chose to sit for Sussex, a seat he held until 1705.
Personal life
On 26 November 1679 Pelham married Elizabeth Jones, with whom he had two daughters:- Hon. Elizabeth Pelham (died 11 May 1711), married Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount TownshendCharles Townshend, 2nd Viscount TownshendCharles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend Bt, KG, PC was a British Whig statesman. He served for a decade as Secretary of State, directing British foreign policy...
- Hon. Lucy Pelham, died unmarried
Pelham's wife Elizabeth died in October 1681. In 1686, he married Lady Grace Holles (daughter of Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare
Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare
Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare was an English nobleman, styled Lord Haughton from 1637 until his accession in 1666....
), with whom he had two sons and five daughters:
- Hon. Grace Pelham (died 1710), married George Naylor
- Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-TyneThomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-TyneThomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and 1st Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne, KG, PC was a British Whig statesman, whose official life extended throughout the Whig supremacy of the 18th century. He is commonly known as the Duke of Newcastle.A protégé of Sir Robert Walpole, he served...
(1693–1768) - Hon. Henry PelhamHenry PelhamHenry Pelham was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 27 August 1743 until his death in 1754...
(1696–1754) - Hon. Frances Pelham (died 27 June 1756), married Christopher Wandesford, 2nd Viscount CastlecomerChristopher Wandesford, 2nd Viscount CastlecomerChristopher Wandesford, 2nd Viscount Castlecomer was a British politician.He was a Member of Parliament for Morpeth from 1710 to 1713.He died aged 35....
- Hon. Gertrude Pelham, married Edmund Polhill
- Hon. Lucy Pelham (died 20 July 1736), married Henry Clinton, 7th Earl of LincolnHenry Clinton, 7th Earl of LincolnHenry Clinton, 7th Earl of Lincoln, KG, PC was the son of Francis Clinton, 6th Earl of Lincoln and his second wife Susan Penniston, daughter of Anthony Penniston...
- Hon. Margaret Pelham (died 23 November 1758), married Sir John Shelley, 4th Baronet
Both of Pelham's sons went on to serve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
. He served as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury for three separate periods (March 1690–March 1692; May 1697–June 1699 and March 1701–May 1702); in 1706, he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Pelham of Laughton (having previously succeeded to his father's baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
age in 1703).
Sources
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography