Thomas Gage, 1st Viscount Gage facts for kids
Thomas Gage, 1st Viscount Gage (born around 1695 – died 21 December 1754), was an important British landowner and politician. He lived at High Meadow in Gloucestershire and later at Firle Place in Sussex. He was a member of the British House of Commons, which is like a part of today's Parliament, for 33 years, from 1717 to 1754. He belonged to the Whig political party.
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Early Life and Family
Thomas Gage was the oldest son of Joseph Gage and Elizabeth Penruddock. His mother was the daughter of Sir George Penruddock. In 1714, Thomas inherited High Meadow from his father-in-law.
In 1715, he changed his religion to the Church of England. This was likely so he could become a member of Parliament. At that time, people often had to belong to the Church of England to hold public office.
Political Career and Titles
Thomas Gage started his political journey in 1717. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Minehead. However, he lost his seat shortly after due to a formal complaint.
In 1720, King George I gave him special titles. He became Baron Gage and Viscount Gage. These titles were from places in Ireland, like Castlebar and Castle Island. Even though he was a Viscount, he could still be an MP in the British House of Commons.
Early Parliamentary Work
In 1721, Gage was elected MP for Tewkesbury. He spoke out against a special tax on Catholics. In 1727, he supported a motion for a "vote of credit," which allowed the government to spend money in emergencies.
He was re-elected in 1727. In 1732, he helped uncover a dishonest sale of some estates. For this, he was rewarded with £2,000. He tried to pass a law in 1736 to stop secret marriages, but it was not approved.
Later Political Roles
In 1738, there were rumors that he might become the Governor of Barbados. However, this never happened, possibly because he didn't have enough powerful friends in politics.
He later joined a group called the Patriot Whigs, who were against the government leader, Robert Walpole. In 1741, he was re-elected as MP for Tewkesbury.
In 1744, Thomas Gage inherited the family estate of Firle Place and a special title called a baronetcy. This happened when his cousin, Sir William Gage, died without children. The main part of his family had been Roman Catholic for a long time. Thomas quietly started practicing Catholicism again, but his children were raised in the Church of England.
He was re-elected for Tewkesbury in 1747. He also worked for Frederick, Prince of Wales, as a Steward of the Household until 1751.
Family Life
Thomas Gage married Benedicta Maria Theresa Hall in 1713. She was from a wealthy family in Gloucestershire. Through this marriage, Thomas gained control of large estates, including High Meadow house, which became his main home. He also got the job of Verderer of the Forest of Dean, which was a position with little work but good pay.
Even though their marriage was not happy, they had two sons and one daughter:
- William Hall Gage, 2nd Viscount Gage, born in 1718.
- General, the Hon. Thomas Gage, born in 1719. He later became a famous military leader in America.
- Hon. Benedicta Maria Teresa Gage, who married George Tasburgh in 1755. She did not have any children.
Benedicta died in 1749. Thomas married his second wife, Jane Bond, in 1750. Jane died a few years later in 1757, without having any children.
Later Years and Legacy
Between 1743 and 1753, Thomas Gage made many changes to Firle Place. He also had some disagreements about land rights, like who owned fallen trees or soil. He spent a lot of time collecting paintings, which are still at Firle Place today.
In the 1754 general election, Thomas Gage and his son lost their seats in Parliament. This was because they didn't agree to pay £1,500 towards fixing roads, which voters had demanded.
Thomas Gage died on 21 December 1754 and was buried at Firle. His oldest son, William Hall Gage, 2nd Viscount Gage, took over his titles. His second son, Thomas Gage, became a very important general in the British Army in America at the start of the American War of Independence.
See also
- Viscount Gage
