Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl Coningsby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl Coningsby
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| Member of the English Parliament for Leominster |
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| In office 1679–1707 Serving with
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| Succeeded by | Parliament of Great Britain |
| Member of the Great Britain Parliament for Leominster |
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| In office 1707–1710 Serving with Edward Harley
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| Preceded by | Parliament of England |
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| Member of the Great Britain Parliament for Leominster |
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| In office 1715–1717 Serving with Edward Harley
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| Born | 2 November 1656 |
| Died | 1 May 1729 (aged 72) Hampton Court Castle, Herefordshire, England |
| Resting place | Hope under Dinmore church |
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Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl Coningsby (born November 2, 1656 – died May 1, 1729) was an important English politician. He lived at Hampton Court Castle in Herefordshire. He served in the House of Commons, which is like one part of today's Parliament, from 1679 until 1716. After that, he became a peer and joined the House of Lords, the other part of Parliament. He was also a member of the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the King or Queen.
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Early Life and Political Beginnings
Thomas Coningsby was the son of Humphrey Coningsby and Lettice Loftus. His family had a long history in England.
In 1679, Thomas Coningsby was chosen to represent Leominster in Parliament. He continued to serve this area for many years. He was re-elected in 1715 and stayed in Parliament until he was given a special title and moved to the House of Lords.
Supporting the Monarchy
Loyalty to William III
Coningsby was a strong supporter of the Glorious Revolution of 1688. This event saw King James II replaced by William III and Queen Mary II. Coningsby was against the Jacobites, who wanted King James II to return to the throne.
He even went with King William III to Ireland. He was present at the Battle of the Boyne, a very important battle where King William was injured. Coningsby was given important roles in Ireland. He helped manage the money for the army and served as one of the three Lord Justices from 1690 to 1692. He made many friends and allies in Ireland. He is also believed to have helped with the Treaty of Limerick, which ended a major conflict in Ireland.
King William recognized Coningsby's loyalty. In 1692, he made him Baron Coningsby of Clanbrassil in Ireland. The next year, he became a member of the Privy Council. King William also promised to officially forgive Coningsby for any mistakes he might have made while working in Ireland.
Despite this, some of his political rivals tried to accuse him of wrongdoing in Parliament in 1693. However, these attempts failed, and he received the King's official pardon in 1694.
From 1695 until his death, Coningsby held the position of chief steward for the city of Hereford. In 1698, he was again made the vice-treasurer and paymaster for the forces in Ireland.
Serving Queen Anne
During the reign of Queen Anne, Coningsby consistently supported the Whig party. Even though his friends were in power, he didn't always receive much recognition for his work. It wasn't until October 1708 that he was sworn into Queen Anne's Privy Council. He was involved in the trial of Henry Sacheverell. Like many other Whig leaders, he lost his seat in Parliament because of a shift in public opinion towards the Tory party.
Supporting George I
When George I became king, Coningsby returned to a prominent role in public life. He was favored by the new King. He was part of a special group of twenty-one people who investigated the negotiations for the Treaty of Utrecht.
As a result of these investigations, Coningsby formally accused Robert Harley, a former first minister, of serious crimes. There was a long-standing rivalry between the Harley and Coningsby families in Herefordshire politics. Coningsby strongly pushed for Harley to be found guilty.
Coningsby was well rewarded for his strong support of the Hanoverian royal family. He became Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire in November 1714. The next month, he also became Lord Lieutenant of Radnorshire.
In 1716, Coningsby was given a special title as a baron in England. Then, in 1719, he was given an even higher title, becoming Earl Coningsby.
Later Life and Challenges
In his later years, Thomas Coningsby faced several personal challenges. He was a widower and did not have any sons who could inherit his main titles. He also had many legal disputes. These legal issues arose from his purchase of lands in Leominster and Marden. He believed that some people living on these lands were not following the correct rules for their property. This led to many disagreements and lawsuits.
After being unwell for some time, Coningsby passed away at Hampton Court Castle on May 1, 1729. He was buried at Hope-under-Dinmore church.
Family Life
Thomas Coningsby married twice. His first wife was Barbara Gorges. They had four daughters and three sons. However, their marriage ended in divorce. His grandson from this marriage inherited his Irish barony but passed away without children shortly after.
His second wife was Lady Frances Jones, whom he married in 1698. She was the daughter of Richard Jones, 1st Earl of Ranelagh. They had one son, Richard, who sadly died at the age of two after choking on a cherrystone. They also had two daughters, Margaret and Frances. Lady Frances passed away in 1715.
When Thomas Coningsby was made an Earl, his title was set up so that his eldest daughter from his second marriage, Margaret, could inherit it if he had no sons. Margaret became the 2nd Countess Coningsby. Her only son, John, died as a baby after an accidental fall. When Margaret died in 1761, the Earl title ended because there were no more male heirs.
Frances, his younger daughter from his second marriage, married Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, a well-known writer. Hampton Court Castle eventually passed down through Frances to his great-grandson, George Capell-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex.
