Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont facts for kids
Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont (born March 9, 1815 – died July 29, 1887) was an important Irish politician and historian. He lived at Ravensdale Park in County Louth, Ireland. He was a member of the Whig political group. Thomas Fortescue was especially known for writing a detailed history of his own family, the ancient Fortescue family. This family had its roots in Devonshire, England, way back in the 12th century.
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Early Life and Family History
Thomas Fortescue was born on March 9, 1815. His father was Chichester Fortescue (1777–1826) from Dromisken, County Louth. His mother was Martha Angel Hobson. She was the daughter of Samuel Meade Hobson, a lawyer from County Cork. Thomas also had a younger brother named Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford (1823-1898). The Fortescue family had a long history in Ireland and England.
Political Career and Titles
Thomas Fortescue studied at Exeter College, Oxford university. In 1833, he inherited Ravensdale Park in County Louth. This happened after Sir Henry James Goodricke, 7th Baronet passed away.
He became the High Sheriff of Louth in 1839. This was an important local role. In 1840, he was elected to the parliament to represent County Louth. He served as a Member of Parliament until 1841.
In 1852, he was given a special title in Ireland. He became Baron Clermont, of Dromisken in the County of Louth. This title was a revival of an old family title. It was also arranged that if he had no children, his younger brother, Chichester Fortescue, would inherit this title.
Later, in 1866, he received another title, this time in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. He became Baron Clermont, of Clermont Park in the County of Louth. This new title allowed him to have a seat in the House of Lords in the British Parliament.
Marriage and Family Life
In 1840, Thomas Fortescue married Lady Louisa Grace Butler. She was the daughter of James Butler, 1st Marquess of Ormonde. They did not have any children together. Lady Louisa lived longer than her husband. She passed away at Ravensdale Park in November 1896, when she was 80 years old.
Later Life and Succession
Thomas Fortescue died at Ravensdale Park in July 1887. He was 72 years old and had no children. Because he had no direct heirs, his United Kingdom peerage (the title that gave him a seat in the House of Lords) ended when he died.
However, his Irish peerage (Baron Clermont of Dromisken) was passed on. According to the special rule made when the title was created, his younger brother, Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford, inherited it. Chichester had already received his own title, Baron Carlingford, in 1874.
Writing the Family History
Lord Clermont was famous for writing a very important book about the Fortescue family. The book was called History of the Family of Fortescue in all its Branches. The first edition came out in London in 1869, and a second edition followed in 1880.
In 1885, he also wrote a supplement to his book. This was because he found two old family documents from the 13th century in a library at Eton College. These documents gave him new information.
In his book, he wanted to show how his family, through its different members, played a part in British history. He wrote that his family was a good example of a "knightly and noble House of England." He explained that while they weren't the most powerful family, they were involved in many events throughout the country's history.
He also made sure to tell readers that some very early parts of his family's history were based on old stories, not always on written proof. He mentioned that the "Domesday Book" (a very old record from after the Norman Conquest) doesn't clearly show a Fortescue ancestor. This means that some very early family stories might not be completely accurate, but they are still part of the family's tradition.
