Thomas Parker, 3rd Earl of Macclesfield facts for kids
Thomas Parker, 3rd Earl of Macclesfield (born October 12, 1723 – died February 9, 1795) was an important British nobleman and politician. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), which means he was part of a group that promotes science. Before he became an Earl, people called him Viscount Parker from 1732 to 1764.
Early Life
Thomas Parker was the son of George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield. His mother was Mary, who was the daughter of Ralph Lane. He grew up in a noble family.
His Time in Politics
Thomas Parker became a member of the British Parliament in 1747. He represented the area of Newcastle-under-Lyme until 1754. After that, he represented Oxfordshire from 1754 to 1761. Later, he represented Rochester from 1761 to 1764.
In 1764, he took over his father's title and became the Earl of Macclesfield. This meant he joined the House of Lords, which is a part of the British Parliament. His family's main home was Shirburn Castle in Oxfordshire. In November 1747, he was also chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society because of his interest in learning and science.
His Family
In 1749, Lord Macclesfield married his cousin, Mary. She was the daughter of Sir William Heathcote, 1st Baronet. Thomas and Mary had four children:
- Lady Elizabeth Parker (born 1751 – died 1829). She married John Fane and they had six children.
- Lady Mary Parker (born 1753).
- George Parker, 4th Earl of Macclesfield (born 1755 – died 1842).
- Thomas Parker, 5th Earl of Macclesfield (born 1763 – died 1850). He married twice and had several children.
Thomas Parker passed away in February 1795 when he was 71 years old. His oldest son, George, became the next Earl. Lady Macclesfield, his wife, died later in May 1812.
