Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1672–1739) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
Born	c. 1672
Died	15 November 1739
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1688–1715
Rank	Lieutenant-General
Unit	1st (Royal) Dragoons
Awards	Order of the Garter

Thomas Wentworth, the 1st Earl of Strafford, was an important English leader. He was born around 1672 and passed away in 1739. He held many important jobs, including being a soldier, a diplomat (someone who represents their country in other nations), and a statesman (a skilled political leader). He even served as the head of the British Navy for a time.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Wentworth was the oldest son of Sir William Wentworth. His mother was Isabella Apsley. His grandfather was the younger brother of another famous leader, also named Thomas Wentworth, the 1st Earl of Strafford.

Some people said Thomas Wentworth wasn't very good at reading or writing. This was because he didn't know Latin or ancient Greek, which were important subjects back then. His spelling was also quite bad. He wasn't known for being a great public speaker either. However, he could read, write, and speak French and German very well. One famous writer, Jonathan Swift, said that Thomas was lively and full of energy, but also "proud as hell."

Military Career

Around 1687, Thomas Wentworth started working for Queen Mary of Modena. In 1688, he officially joined the army as a cornet, which was a junior officer rank.

He served as a soldier in the Low Countries (modern-day Belgium and Netherlands). He also sometimes helped with diplomatic tasks while in the army. Thomas fought bravely in the Battle of Steenkerque and was injured there. Because of his good service, he became an aide to King William in 1692. He continued to rise through the ranks in the army.

In 1695, his cousin, William Wentworth, the 2nd Earl of Strafford, passed away without children. Thomas then became the 3rd Baron Raby. However, he did not inherit the family's large fortune or the grand house called Wentworth Woodhouse.

In 1697, Raby became the colonel of the Royal Regiment of Dragoons. He was also made a deputy lieutenant of Lincolnshire in 1700. He was sent as an ambassador to Berlin in 1701, which was the first of many trips he made to Prussia. Under Queen Anne, he became a brigadier in 1703 and a major general in 1704.

Life as a Diplomat

From 1703 to 1704, and again from 1705 to 1711, Thomas Wentworth was Queen Anne's ambassador in Berlin. While he was there, he hired architects to design Wentworth Castle in Yorkshire. This castle was built mostly from a distance, with Thomas giving directions through letters. In 1707, he was promoted to lieutenant general. From 1711 to 1714, he was the British ambassador at The Hague in the Netherlands.

In 1711, he became a member of the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the King or Queen. Soon after, he was given the titles Viscount Wentworth and Earl of Strafford. From 1712 to 1714, Strafford was the First Lord of the Admiralty, meaning he was in charge of the British Navy. In 1712, he was also made a Knight of the Garter, a very high honor.

After Queen Anne died, Strafford was one of the important leaders who represented the new king, George I, until the king arrived in Great Britain. Strafford also represented Great Britain at the Congress of Utrecht, where a peace treaty was signed. Later, in 1715, he was accused of wrongdoing for his part in making this treaty, but the accusations were not proven.

Later Life and Plots

After his public service, Strafford retired to Wentworth Castle. He became involved in secret plans to bring the Stuart family back to the throne of England. These plans included the Atterbury Plot (1720–1722) and the Cornbury Plot (1731–1735). The Stuart family's leader, known as "the Old Pretender," even named Strafford as one of his main leaders in England.

Even though the government knew he was involved in these secret plans, they decided not to punish him. He lived out his final years peacefully. He sometimes still attended debates in the House of Lords, even though he wasn't a very good public speaker.

Family Life

In 1711, Thomas Wentworth married Anne Johnson. She came from a wealthy family and brought a large dowry (money or property given by the bride's family). Their marriage was happy, and their letters show they cared for each other deeply.

They had one son and three daughters:

• William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford (1722–1791), who was their only son.
• Anne Wentworth, who married William James Conolly.
• Lucy Wentworth, who married Sir George Howard.
• Henrietta Wentworth, who married Henry Vernon.

Death

Thomas Wentworth passed away on 15 November 1739, after being ill for several years. He was succeeded in his titles by his only son, William Wentworth.