Sir Thomas Chapman, 7th Baronet facts for kids

Ruins of Killua Castle, the old home of the Chapman baronets

Sir Thomas Robert Tighe Chapman, 7th Baronet (born November 6, 1846 – died April 8, 1919), was an Anglo-Irish landowner. He was the last of the Chapman baronets from Killua Castle in County Westmeath, Ireland. For many years, he lived under the name Thomas Robert Lawrence. He used the last name of his partner, Sarah Lawrence, who was the mother of his five sons. One of his sons became very famous: T. E. Lawrence, also known as 'Lawrence of Arabia'.

Growing Up in Ireland

Thomas Chapman was born in 1846. He was the second of three sons born to William Chapman and his wife Louisa. His family was part of the Anglo-Irish landowning class. This meant they owned a lot of land in Ireland. For many generations, his family had married into other important families in England and Ireland.

Thomas grew up learning how to be a country gentleman. He lived at a house called South Hill, near Delvin, County Westmeath, Ireland. This property was about 170 acres. His family also had a home in Dublin. Thomas went to school in England, at Eton College.

A New Life and Family

As a younger son, Thomas was expected to manage the family's lands, not own them. From 1866 to 1868, he studied how to manage estates at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. However, his older brother, William Eden Chapman, passed away in May 1870. This made Thomas the next in line to inherit the family title and lands.

Sarah Lawrence

On July 24, 1873, Thomas Chapman married Edith Sarah Hamilton. They had four daughters: Eva, Rose, Florence, and Mabel.

Later, a young woman named Sarah Lawrence became a governess for the Chapman family. Thomas Chapman and Sarah Lawrence started a new family together. In 1885, their first son, Montagu Robert, was born in Dublin. Thomas then moved with Sarah to Tremadog, North Wales. Their second son, Thomas Edward, who would later be known as 'Lawrence of Arabia', was born there in August 1888.

The Lawrence family lived at 2 Polstead Road, Oxford from 1896 to 1921

T. E. Lawrence

The family moved often, living in places like Scotland, France, and the Isle of Wight. They chose places where people would not know Thomas's real identity. They had nine children in total, but three of them died young. Five sons and one daughter survived childhood. In 1896, still using the name Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, they moved to Polstead Road in Oxford. They moved there mainly so their sons could get a good education.

Thomas Chapman enjoyed a relaxed life. He spent a lot of time with his sons. He loved photography and fox hunting. He spoke French well and was interested in old buildings. He taught his sons carpentry. Even when he was old, he would quote from ancient Greek and Roman writers like Homer and Horace. He also liked to ride his bicycle for long distances.

In 1914, Thomas Chapman became the 7th Baronet after his cousin, Sir Benjamin Rupert Chapman, passed away. Thomas Chapman died on April 8, 1919, in Oxford. He was buried at Wolvercote Cemetery. Since he did not have any sons who were considered legal heirs under the old rules, the Chapman Baronetcy of Killua Castle ended.

Thomas's son, T. E. Lawrence, became world-famous after the Arab Revolt in 1916. Another of his sons, A. W. Lawrence (1900–1991), became a well-known archaeologist and art historian.

Family and Descendants

The Lawrence brothers in 1910: from left to right: Thomas Edward (Ned), Frank, Arnold, Bob and Will

Sir Thomas Chapman had four daughters with his wife Edith:

• Eva Jane Louisa (born 1874)
• Rose Isabel (born 1878)
• Florence Lina (born 1880)
• Mabel Cecele (born 1881)

He also had five sons and one daughter with Sarah Lawrence who survived childhood:

• Montagu Robert Lawrence (1885–1971): He became a doctor and worked as a medical missionary in China.
• Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence (1888–1935): He died in a motorcycle accident and had no children.
• William George Lawrence (1889–1915): He died during the First World War while serving in the Royal Flying Corps. He had no children.
• Frank Helier Lawrence (1893–1915): He also died during the First World War while serving in the Gloucestershire Regiment. He had no children.
• Arnold Walter Lawrence (1900–1991): He married Barbara Thompson in 1925. They had one child, Jane Helen Thera Lawrence. Jane later married James Macdonald Cassels and had two children.

Sarah Lawrence lived a long life and passed away in 1959 at the age of 98 in Oxford.