Sir William Thomas, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir William Thomas, 1st Baronet (born July 29, 1641 – died November 18, 1706) was an important English politician. He served in the House of Commons, which is a bit like a country's main law-making group, for many years. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1661 to 1679, and again from 1680 until his death in 1706.
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Who Was Sir William Thomas?
Sir William Thomas was born in 1641. He was given the special title of a Baronet on July 23, 1660. A Baronet is a hereditary title, which means it can be passed down in a family, similar to a knight but ranking just below a Baron. His title was "Baronet of Folkington" in the area of Sussex, England.
His Role as a Politician
Sir William Thomas spent a lot of his life working in politics. He was a Member of Parliament (MP), which means he was chosen by people to represent them in the House of Commons. Think of it like being a representative for your town or area in a big national meeting where laws are made.
- He represented the town of Seaford from 1661 to 1681.
- He also represented the larger area of Sussex in 1681.
Military Service
Besides his political work, Sir William Thomas also had a role in the military. In 1697, he became a Colonel in one of the groups of the Sussex Militia. A militia was a group of ordinary citizens who were trained to help defend their local area, similar to a local defense force.
Family Life
Sir William Thomas was married to Barbara Springet. Her father was Sir Herbert Springet, 1st Baronet, who was also a Member of Parliament for different areas.
End of a Title
Sir William Thomas passed away in 1706 when he was 65 years old. Since he did not have any children to pass his Baronet title on to, the title "Baronet of Folkington" ended with him. This means it became "extinct" and was no longer used after his death.
