Sir Thomas Frankland, 3rd Baronet facts for kids

Sir Thomas Frankland, 3rd Baronet (born around 1685 – died April 17, 1747), was an important English politician. He came from Thirkleby in Yorkshire. Sir Thomas was a member of the Whig party, which was one of the main political groups in England at the time. He served in the English and British Parliament for more than 30 years, from 1708 to 1741. A "Baronet" is a special title, like a knight, that can be passed down in a family.

His Early Life and Education

Sir Thomas Frankland was the oldest son of Sir Thomas Frankland, 2nd Baronet, and Elizabeth Russell. His mother, Elizabeth, was a descendant of the famous English leader Oliver Cromwell.

In 1700, young Thomas went to Jesus College at Cambridge University. This was a big step in his education. From 1704 to 1705, he traveled around Italy. He even studied at Padua University in 1705, learning new things from different places. In 1707, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a group of very smart people who study science and improve knowledge.

His Time in Politics

Sir Thomas Frankland had a long and successful career in politics. He was first chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Harwich in 1708. An MP is a person elected by the public to represent them in the government. He was re-elected without anyone running against him in 1710.

Later, he became the MP for Thirsk, which was a family area, in 1713 and 1715. Again, he was elected without opposition. In 1715, he got a job as the Clerk of the Deliveries of the Ordnance. He held this important position until 1722.

He continued to be elected for Thirsk in 1722. In 1724, he was made a Commissioner of Revenue for Ireland. This meant he helped manage money for the government in Ireland.

When his father passed away in 1726, Thomas became the 3rd Baronet. He was re-elected for Thirsk in 1727. In 1728, he joined the Board of Trade, which helped with business and trade rules. Then, in 1730, he became one of the Lords of the Admiralty. This was a very important role, helping to manage the Royal Navy, which was the country's powerful fleet of ships. He was elected for Thirsk again in 1734 and 1741.

His Family and Legacy

Sir Thomas Frankland passed away on April 17, 1747. He was married two times.

His first marriage was on June 5, 1715, to Dinah Topham. They had two daughters:

• Elizabeth, who passed away in 1742. She married John Trevor.
• Dinah, who was born in 1719 and died in 1779. She became the Countess of Lichfield after marrying George Lee, the 3rd Earl of Lichfield.

His second wife was Sarah Moseley. They married on July 9, 1741. She was much younger than him. Sir Thomas left all his property to her in his will. However, there was a disagreement about the will after he died.

Since Sir Thomas did not have any sons, his special title of Baronet passed to his nephew, Charles. Charles was the son of Sir Thomas's brother, Henry Frankland, who had been the Governor of Bengal.