Sir Thomas Dereham, 4th Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Thomas Dereham, 4th Baronet
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Medal of Thomas Dereham aged 36 by Massimiliano Soldani Benzi
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| Born | 1678 West Dereham Abbey, Norfolk, England
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| Died | 16 January 1738 (aged 59–60) Rome, Italy
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| Nationality | English |
| Known for | Informal Jacobite ambassador to Rome |
Sir Thomas Dereham, 4th Baronet (around 1678–1739) was an English nobleman. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society. Sir Thomas spent most of his life in Italy. There, he worked as an unofficial helper for the Old Pretender. The Old Pretender was also known as James III by his supporters.
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Who Was Sir Thomas Dereham?
Sir Thomas Dereham was born in West Dereham Abbey, Norfolk, England. His father was Sir Richard Dereham, 3rd Baronet. His mother was Frances Villiers. When he was young, he was cared for by his cousin, Sir Thomas Dereham. This cousin was an envoy, or representative, to the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Sir Thomas later inherited his cousin's property. He was educated in Florence, Italy, at the court of Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
Working for the "Old Pretender"
Sir Thomas Dereham later moved to Rome. In Rome, he worked for the Old Pretender. The Old Pretender was James Francis Edward Stuart. His supporters called him James III. Sir Thomas helped him deal with Pope Clement XII and the English people living in Rome. These English people supported the Stuart royal family.
For many years, Sir Thomas was a close friend of Pope Clement XII. He was also friends with the Pope's nephew, Cardinal Andrea Corsini. In 1733, a man named Baron Philipp von Stosch wrote about Sir Thomas. Stosch said that Sir Thomas was "playing the part of the Pope's favourite." He also said Sir Thomas had "extreme influence with Cardinal Corsini." Stosch believed Sir Thomas acted like a minister and was "protector of the British nation."
A Friend of Science
Sir Thomas Dereham became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1720. This meant he was a member of a famous group that promoted science. He regularly sent reports about Italian science to the Royal Society in England. In 1722, he started writing to James Jurin, who was the secretary of the Royal Society. He also wrote to Sir Isaac Newton, who was the president.
Sir Thomas offered to help connect scientists in Italy and England. He wanted to "open a Philosophical Communication between two nations." He reported on new science groups in Italy. These included the Academy of the Institute of Sciences and the Arts of Bologna. He also reported on a group in Milan. Sir Thomas even started translating the Royal Society's scientific papers into Italian. The first book of his translation came out in 1729.
In 1739, Sir Thomas helped order scientific tools from London. These tools were for the Bologna Institute of Science. They included a 3-foot telescope and other measuring instruments.
His Later Life and Legacy
Sir Thomas Dereham never married. He died in Rome on January 16, 1739, when he was 65 years old. He was buried in the Venerable English College in Rome. His monument there was made by famous sculptors. Sir Thomas left money to a college in Rome called "de Propaganda Fide." This money was to help English students become Roman Catholic missionaries.
