Thomas Strangways Horner facts for kids
Thomas Strangways Horner was an important person in British history. He was born in 1688 and lived until 1741. He owned land in places like Mells, Somerset, and Melbury, Dorset. He was also a politician who served in the House of Commons from 1713 to 1741.
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Early Life and Family
Thomas Strangways Horner was born in 1688. His father was George Horner, who was also a Member of Parliament. Thomas went to Trinity College, Oxford when he was 17 years old. In 1708, he took over his family's estate, Mells Manor, after his father passed away.
In 1713, Thomas married Susanna Strangways. Her father was Thomas Strangways, who owned Melbury House in Dorset. This marriage connected Thomas to another important family and their lands.
Starting in Politics
Before becoming a Member of Parliament, Thomas Strangways Horner had other important roles. From 1711 to 1712, he was the High Sheriff of Somerset. This was a local government job, like a chief officer for the county. In 1713, he became a "freeman" of Bath, which meant he had certain rights in that city.
In 1713, Thomas was elected to the House of Commons. He became a Member of Parliament for Somerset. He was a member of the Tory political party. He was elected without anyone running against him, which means he was very popular in his area.
Time in Parliament
Thomas Strangways Horner continued his political career. In 1715, he was elected again, this time for the area of Wells. He was a Tory, and at that time, there were some political challenges. He voted against a law called the "Septennial Bill." This bill would have made elections happen less often.
He was removed from his seat in Parliament twice, but he was re-elected both times! This shows that people in his area really wanted him to represent them. After 1717, he did not try to be elected for Wells again.
New Homes and Family Changes
In 1724, Thomas Strangways Horner decided to move out of the old Mells Manor house. He asked a builder named Nathaniel Ireson to construct a new house called Park House within Mells Park.
A few years later, in 1726, his wife, Susanna, inherited a large estate in Dorset called Melbury. Because of this, Thomas added "Strangways" to his name, becoming Thomas Strangways Horner. In 1729, his wife inherited even more land from her sister.
Later Political Career
Thomas Strangways Horner was elected as a Member of Parliament for Somerset again in 1727. He was elected without anyone running against him. During this time, he often voted against the government's plans. He was re-elected again in 1734. He did not run for election in 1741.
Family Life and Legacy
Thomas and Susanna had a daughter named Elizabeth. In 1736, when Elizabeth was 13, her mother arranged for her to marry Stephen Fox. Thomas did not like this marriage. He thought Elizabeth was too young, and he also disagreed with Stephen Fox's political ideas.
Thomas Strangways Horner had two sons, but they both passed away before him. When Thomas died in 1741, his lands in Somerset went to his younger brother. His daughter, Elizabeth, received money that was set aside for her from her parents' marriage. Later, in 1758, when her mother died, Elizabeth inherited all the valuable Strangways family properties in Dorset.
Images for kids
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Mells Manor, one of Thomas Strangways Horner's homes.
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Melbury House, which Thomas's wife inherited.
