Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1672-1739)

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Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford KG (1672–15 November 1739), was a diplomat and First Lord of the Admiralty.

Thomas was a son of Sir William Wentworth of Northgatehead who served as Sheriff of Yorkshire and his wife Isabella Apsley, daughter of Sir Allen Apsley. His paternal grandfather Sir William Wentworth of Ashby Puerorum was a younger brother of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford. The younger Thomas Wentworth was thus first cousin, once removed of William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford who died childless.

In early life Thomas saw much service as a soldier in the Low Countries, and was occasionally employed on diplomatic errands. From 1711 to 1714 he was British ambassador at the Hague, and in. 1711 he was created earl of Strafford. The earl was one of the British representatives at the congress of Utrecht, and in 1715 he was impeached for his share in concluding this treaty, but the charges against him were not pressed to a conclusion.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Preceded by Sir John Leake

First Lord of the Admiralty 1712–1714

Succeeded by Earl of Orford

Preceded by New Creation	Earl of Strafford 1711–1739	Succeeded by William Wentworth
Preceded by William Wentworth	Baron Raby 1695–1739