Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1672-1739)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (of the 2nd creation), KG
(1672 – 15 November 1739), known as Thomas Wentworth, 3rd Baron Raby from 1695 to 1711, was a diplomat
and First Lord of the Admiralty.
Thomas was a son of Sir William Wentworth of Northgatehead who served as High Sheriff of Yorkshire
and his wife Isabella Apsley, daughter of Sir Allen Apsley. His paternal grandfather Sir William Wentworth of Ashby Puerorum was a younger brother of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
.
In his youth, about 1687, he was a Page of Honour
to Queen Mary of Modena
. On 31 December 1688, he was commissioned a cornet
in Colchester's Regiment of Horse
. Thomas Wentworth saw much service as a soldier in the Low Countries
, and was occasionally employed on diplomatic errands. He was appointed an aide-de-camp
to King William
in August 1692, was commissioned guideon and 1st major in the 1st Troop of Horse Guards
4 October 1693, and cornet and 1st major in the same 20 January 1694. On 7 May 1695, Wentworth was appointed a Groom of the Bedchamber to the King.
Upon the death without issue of his first cousin once removed, William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford
, on 16 October 1695, Wentworth succeeded him as the 3rd Baron Raby
. He did not inherit the Strafford fortune, however, which was passed to the second earl's wife's nephew, Thomas Watson
, with the Jacobean house of the great earl, Wentworth Woodhouse
.
Raby was commissioned colonel of The Royal Regiment of Dragoons in 1697 and appointed a deputy lieutenant
of Lincolnshire
on 21 May 1700. He was employed as ambassador extraordinary to Berlin in March 1701, the first of several missions he would undertake to Prussia. Under Queen Anne, Raby became a brigadier
of horse on 7 January 1703 and a major general
on 1 January 1704.
From 1703 to 1704 and 1705 to 1711 he was Queen Anne's ambassador to Berlin, where he secured the services of Johann von Bodt to design for him Wentworth Castle
, in the heart of Wentworth country in Yorkshire
, built, largely directed by letter from a distance, from about 1710 to 1720. While serving abroad, on 1 January 1707, he was commissioned a lieutenant general
. From March 1711 to 1714 he was British ambassador at the Hague. On 14 June 1711, he was sworn of the Privy Council, and on 29 June 1711 he was created Viscount Wentworth of Wentworth-Woodhouse and of Stainborough and Earl of Strafford
. From 1712 until 1714, Strafford was First Lord of the Admiralty, and in October 1712, was made a Knight of the Garter. After the death of Anne, he was one of the Lords Justices who represented George I
until the new King arrived in Great Britain.
The Earl was one of the British representatives at the congress of Utrecht, and in 1715 he was impeached for his share in concluding this treaty, but the charges against him were not pressed to a conclusion (although he lost his colonelcy). Strafford retired to Wentworth Castle. He was a leading conspirator in the "Atterbury Plot
" to restore the Stuarts of 1720-1722, and was later also a party to the Cornbury Plot of 1731-1735. The Pretender appointed him one of his 'Lords Regent' in England and commander of the Jacobite
forces north of the Humber
. For his role in furthering the Jacobite cause, he was created by the Old Pretender
on "Duke of Strafford" in the Jacobite Peerage
of England on 5 June 1722.
On 6 September 1711 he married Anne Johnson, daughter of Sir Henry Johnson, member of parliament for Aldeburgh
. Together they had three daughters, Anne, Lucy, and Henrietta; and a son, William (b. 1722). Thomas Wentworth died on 15 November 1739. He was succeeded in his titles by his only son William, who became 2nd Earl of Strafford.
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Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(1672 – 15 November 1739), known as Thomas Wentworth, 3rd Baron Raby from 1695 to 1711, was a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and First Lord of the Admiralty.
Thomas was a son of Sir William Wentworth of Northgatehead who served as High Sheriff of Yorkshire
High Sheriff of Yorkshire
The High Sheriff of Yorkshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. A list of the sheriffs from the Norman conquest onwards can be found below...
and his wife Isabella Apsley, daughter of Sir Allen Apsley. His paternal grandfather Sir William Wentworth of Ashby Puerorum was a younger brother of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford was an English statesman and a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. He served in Parliament and was a supporter of King Charles I. From 1632 to 1639 he instituted a harsh rule as Lord Deputy of Ireland...
.
In his youth, about 1687, he was a Page of Honour
Page of Honour
While a page is a comparatively low-ranking servant, a Page of Honour is a ceremonial position in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It requires attendance on state occasions, but does not now involve the daily duties which were once attached to the office of page...
to Queen Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena was Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of King James II and VII. A devout Catholic, Mary became, in 1673, the second wife of James, Duke of York, who later succeeded his older brother Charles II as King James II...
. On 31 December 1688, he was commissioned a cornet
Cornet (military rank)
Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. A cornet is a new and junior officer.- Traditional duties :The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet"....
in Colchester's Regiment of Horse
3rd Dragoon Guards
The 3rd Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 3rd/6th Dragoon Guards in 1922....
. Thomas Wentworth saw much service as a soldier in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
, and was occasionally employed on diplomatic errands. He was appointed an aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to King William
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
in August 1692, was commissioned guideon and 1st major in the 1st Troop of Horse Guards
1st Troop of Horse Guards
The 1st Troop of Horse Guards was formed from King Charles II's exiled followers in the Netherlands ....
4 October 1693, and cornet and 1st major in the same 20 January 1694. On 7 May 1695, Wentworth was appointed a Groom of the Bedchamber to the King.
Upon the death without issue of his first cousin once removed, William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford
William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford
William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford was a member of England's House of Lords.He was a son of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford and his second wife Arabella Holles. When his father, Thomas, was executed in 1641, William left the Kingdom of England for several years. In 1652 he was...
, on 16 October 1695, Wentworth succeeded him as the 3rd Baron Raby
Baron Raby
There have been two creations of the title Baron Raby, both in the Peerage of England. The first was in 1640, as a subsidiary title of the Earl of Strafford . The first earl was attainted and his peerages declared forfeit in 1641, but heir obtained a reversal in 1662...
. He did not inherit the Strafford fortune, however, which was passed to the second earl's wife's nephew, Thomas Watson
Thomas Watson-Wentworth
The Hon. Thomas Watson married Alice, a daughter of Sir Thomas Proby, 1st Baronet....
, with the Jacobean house of the great earl, Wentworth Woodhouse
Wentworth Woodhouse
Wentworth Woodhouse is a Grade I listed country house near the village of Wentworth, in the vicinity of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. "One of the great Whig political palaces", its East Front, long, is the longest country house façade in Europe. The house includes 365 rooms and covers an...
.
Raby was commissioned colonel of The Royal Regiment of Dragoons in 1697 and appointed a 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....
of Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
on 21 May 1700. He was employed as ambassador extraordinary to Berlin in March 1701, the first of several missions he would undertake to Prussia. Under Queen Anne, Raby became a brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
of horse on 7 January 1703 and a major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
on 1 January 1704.
From 1703 to 1704 and 1705 to 1711 he was Queen Anne's ambassador to Berlin, where he secured the services of Johann von Bodt to design for him Wentworth Castle
Wentworth Castle
Wentworth Castle is a stately home and estate near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. It was originally the seat of the Earls of Strafford. An older house existed on the estate, then called Stainborough, when it was purchased by Thomas Wentworth, Lord Raby , in 1711...
, in the heart of Wentworth country in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, built, largely directed by letter from a distance, from about 1710 to 1720. While serving abroad, on 1 January 1707, he was commissioned a lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
. From March 1711 to 1714 he was British ambassador at the Hague. On 14 June 1711, he was sworn of the Privy Council, and on 29 June 1711 he was created Viscount Wentworth of Wentworth-Woodhouse and of Stainborough and Earl of Strafford
Earl of Strafford
Earl of Strafford is a title that has been created three times in English and British history.The first creation was in the Peerage of England in 1640 for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Baron Wentworth, the close advisor of King Charles I...
. From 1712 until 1714, Strafford was First Lord of the Admiralty, and in October 1712, was made a Knight of the Garter. After the death of Anne, he was one of the Lords Justices who represented George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
until the new King arrived in Great Britain.
The Earl was one of the British representatives at the congress of Utrecht, and in 1715 he was impeached for his share in concluding this treaty, but the charges against him were not pressed to a conclusion (although he lost his colonelcy). Strafford retired to Wentworth Castle. He was a leading conspirator in the "Atterbury Plot
Francis Atterbury
Francis Atterbury was an English man of letters, politician and bishop.-Early life:He was born at Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, where his father was rector. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he became a tutor...
" to restore the Stuarts of 1720-1722, and was later also a party to the Cornbury Plot of 1731-1735. The Pretender appointed him one of his 'Lords Regent' in England and commander of the Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
forces north of the Humber
Humber
The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank...
. For his role in furthering the Jacobite cause, he was created by the Old Pretender
James Francis Edward Stuart
James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales was the son of the deposed James II of England...
on "Duke of Strafford" in the Jacobite Peerage
Jacobite peerage
After the deposition by the English parliament in February 1689 of King James II and VII from the thrones of England and Ireland , he and his successors continued to create peers and baronets, which they believed was their right...
of England on 5 June 1722.
On 6 September 1711 he married Anne Johnson, daughter of Sir Henry Johnson, member of parliament for Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh (UK Parliament constituency)
Aldeburgh was a parliamentary borough represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessor bodies.The town was enfranchised in 1571 as a borough constituency...
. Together they had three daughters, Anne, Lucy, and Henrietta; and a son, William (b. 1722). Thomas Wentworth died on 15 November 1739. He was succeeded in his titles by his only son William, who became 2nd Earl of Strafford.
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