Richard Tufton, 5th Earl of Thanet facts for kids
Richard Tufton, 5th Earl of Thanet (born around 1640 or 1641 – died 8 March 1684) was an important English nobleman. Before he became an Earl, he was known as The Honourable Richard Tufton.
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Who Was Richard Tufton?
Richard Tufton was a member of a very old and powerful family in England. He was the third son of John Tufton, 2nd Earl of Thanet and Lady Margaret. His mother, Lady Margaret, was the daughter of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset and Lady Anne Clifford.
A Famous Ancestor
Richard Tufton also had a very famous great-great-grandfather: Lord Burghley. Lord Burghley was a key advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, one of England's most famous queens. This shows that Richard came from a family with a long history of serving the country.
Richard's Political Life
Richard Tufton was involved in the politics of his time. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for a place called Appleby. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the country's government. He was an MP from 1679 to 1680.
Joining the House of Lords
In 1680, something big happened: Richard's older brother, John Tufton, 4th Earl of Thanet, passed away. This meant Richard inherited the title of Earl of Thanet. When he became an Earl, he also gained a seat in the House of Lords. The House of Lords is another important part of the British Parliament, made up of nobles and bishops.
High Sheriff of Westmorland
Besides his role in Parliament, Richard also took on another important job. He became the High Sheriff of Westmorland. This was a local government position, and he held it from 1680 until his death in 1684. A High Sheriff was responsible for keeping law and order in their county.
His Later Life
Richard Tufton, the 5th Earl of Thanet, never married. He passed away in March 1684. After his death, his younger brother, Thomas, became the 6th Earl of Thanet.
