Thomas Coke (privy counsellor) facts for kids
_of_Melbourne_Hall_(by_Michael_Dahl).jpg)
Thomas Coke (born February 19, 1674 – died May 11, 1727) was an important English politician. He lived at Melbourne Hall in Melbourne, Derbyshire. Thomas Coke served in the House of Commons, which is like a parliament where laws are made, from 1698 to 1715. Even though he was officially part of the Tory political group, he often worked with the Whigs. He did this to keep his important jobs in the government.
His Early Life
Thomas Coke was the son of John Coke and Mary Leventhorpe. He was born in Melbourne, Derbyshire, and was baptized there in February 1675. His father was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Derby.
Sadly, Thomas lost both his parents when he was still young. He received his education in other countries. In 1688, he studied with Monsieur Chauvais in Rotterdam. Later, in 1693, he went to New College, Oxford in England. He also traveled in the Netherlands in 1696 and 1697.
Around June 1698, Thomas Coke got married for the first time. His wife was Lady Mary Stanhope. She was the daughter of Philip, Earl of Chesterfield. They were married in Repton.
His Time in Politics
Thomas Coke became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Derbyshire in 1698. He held this position until January 1701. He was elected again for Derbyshire in December 1701.
In March 1702, he was given a job as a Commissioner of Public Accounts. This meant he helped check government money. He was re-elected without anyone running against him in 1702.
Thomas really wanted a government job. In May 1704, he became a Teller of the Receipt of the Exchequer. This was a role where he managed money coming into the government. He was re-elected again in 1705 without opposition.
In December 1706, he traded jobs with another person to become Vice-Chamberlain of the Household. This was a court position, meaning he worked closely with the royal family. He kept this job for the rest of his life.
He was elected MP for Derbyshire again in 1708. That same year, he became a Privy Counsellor. This meant he was a trusted advisor to the King or Queen.
Towards the end of this time in Parliament, his votes started to upset his supporters. He often voted with the Whigs, especially when he supported the impeachment of Dr. Sacheverell. This made his Tory voters unhappy.
So, in the 1710 election, he decided not to run in Derbyshire. Instead, he became the MP for Grampound. Here, he felt more comfortable supporting the Tory group. He was even called a "worthy patriot" for finding problems with the previous government.
He was re-elected in 1713. However, he did not run for election in 1715 or any time after that. Even though some Whigs had doubts about him, he managed to keep his important job as Vice-Chamberlain.
Thomas Coke also helped start the Royal Academy of Music. This was a company in London that put on operas. They hired famous composers like Handel and Bononcini to write music.
Life After Politics and Legacy
When Thomas Coke took over Melbourne Hall, he made many changes and additions to the house. He is also known for creating the beautiful gardens at Melbourne Hall. However, these projects cost a lot of money.
On October 15, 1709, he married his second wife, Elizabeth Hales. She was the daughter of Richard Hales and was one of Queen Anne's Maids of Honour.
Thomas Coke passed away suddenly on May 16 or 17, 1727, after being sick for only a few days. He was 52 years old. He was buried in Melbourne.
He had two daughters from his first marriage. With his second wife, he had a daughter and a son. He left most of his property and wealth to his son, George Lewis Coke. He also made sure his daughters were provided for.
