Thomas Pelham (of Lewes, senior) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Pelham
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| Member of the British Parliament for Lewes |
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| In office 1705–1741 |
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| Succeeded by | Thomas Pelham |
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| Born | c. 1678 |
| Died | 1759 |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Pelham |
| Children | 12, including Thomas Pelham and Henry Cressett Pelham |
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| Alma mater | St Edmund Hall, Oxford |
Thomas Pelham (born around 1678, died 1759) was an important English politician. He was a member of the well-known Pelham family from Sussex. In 1705, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Lewes. He was a strong supporter of the Whig political party in the House of Commons. He also served on the Board of Trade, though he didn't attend every meeting. He eventually stepped down from Parliament in 1741, letting his oldest son take his place.
Thomas Pelham's Early Life
Thomas Pelham was born around 1678. He was the oldest son of Sir Nicholas Pelham. He went to St Edmund Hall, Oxford University in 1693 and later studied law at Gray's Inn in 1696.
In 1704, Thomas married his cousin, Elizabeth. She was the daughter of Henry Pelham. Together, they had twelve children, including eight sons and four daughters:
- Thomas Pelham (around 1705–1743)
- John Pelham (died 1786)
- Henry Cressett Pelham (1729?–1803)
- Frances Pelham, who married Edward Cressett
- Elizabeth Pelham, who married William Hay
- Margaret Pelham, who married Sir William Ashburnham, 4th Baronet
- Grace Pelham
Thomas Pelham's Political Journey
The Pelham family owned a lot of land in and near Lewes. This gave them a strong influence in local elections. The Pelhams were usually members of the Whig party. They were popular with local Nonconformists, who were Protestants who did not follow the official Church of England.
Thomas's father, Sir Nicholas, had been an MP for Lewes since 1702. In the 1705 English general election, Sir Nicholas stepped aside so his son, Thomas, could run. The family supported Thomas and Richard Payne, who was also a Whig. Thomas Pelham won the most votes in that election.
In Parliament, Thomas Pelham was known as a "Low Church" Whig. This meant he generally supported the government. For example, he voted to impeach Henry Sacheverell in 1710. In the 1710 British general election, he won again, alongside another Whig, Peter Gott.
After the Hanoverian succession in 1714, when a new royal family came to the throne, Thomas remained a loyal Whig. In 1715, he became a commissioner for Army debts, which was a job that paid £500 a year. Later, thanks to his relative, the powerful Duke of Newcastle, he became a Lord of Trade. This was a more important role, paying £1,000 a year.
Thomas Pelham was a reliable voter for the government in the House of Commons. However, he didn't spend much time connecting with the voters in Lewes. This caused problems for the family's political influence there.
In 1733, a new challenge arose. Thomas Sergison, a local landowner, and Nathaniel Garland, who represented the Dissenters, decided to run against the Pelhams. The Duke of Newcastle visited Sussex and realized that Thomas Pelham was not very popular. Thomas had not worked hard to get the support of the voters in Lewes.
Despite these challenges, the Pelhams managed to win the 1734 British general election by a small number of votes. Thomas Pelham won by only eight votes. His son, also named Thomas, died in 1737. In 1741, the elder Thomas Pelham decided to retire from Parliament. He received a yearly payment of £800. His youngest son, another Thomas Pelham, took his place as MP for Lewes and also joined the Board of Trade.
Later Life
In 1739, Thomas Pelham inherited the family estate at Catsfield after his father, Sir Nicholas, passed away. His son, Thomas, who had taken his seat in Parliament, died in 1743. The elder Thomas Pelham lived for sixteen more years. He was buried in Lewes on December 10, 1759. His estate was passed down to his oldest living son, John.
