Thomas H. Sotheron-Estcourt

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Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron-Estcourt (April 4, 1801January 6, 1876), known as Thomas Bucknall-Estcourt until 1839 and as Thomas Sotheron from 1839 to 1855, was a British Conservative politician.

Sotheron-Estcourt was the eldest son of Thomas Bucknall-Estcourt, Member of Parliament for Devizes and Oxford University, son of Thomas Estcourt, Member of Parliament for Cricklade. His mother was Eleanor, daughter of James Sutton. Educated at Harrow and Oriel College, Oxford, Estcourt was elected to Parliament as MP for Marlborough in 1829. The next year, he married the daughter of Admiral Frank Sotheron, and changed his name to Sotheron in 1839 in order to inherit his father-in-law's property. He was elected to parliament again in 1835 as MP for Devizes, switched to North Wiltshire in 1844, and continued in the Commons until 1865. He was a descendant of Sir Thomas Estcourt of Calcot Manor.

Sotheron resumed the name Estcourt in 1855, and entered Lord Derby's second government in 1858 as President of the Poor Law Board. The next year, he became Home Secretary, but the government soon fell, and Sotheron Estcourt retired from public life in 1863 after a paralytic seizure; he died 13 years later at the age of 74. He had been sworn of the Privy Council in 1858. His estates passed to his nephew George Bucknall-Estcourt, who assumed the surname of Sotheron-Estcourt and was created Baron Estcourt in 1903.

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Lord Brudenell
Earl Bruce
Member of Parliament for Marlborough
with Lord Brudenell 1829
William John Bankes 1829–1832

1829–1832
Succeeded by
Lord Ernest Brudenell-Bruce
Henry Bingham Baring
Preceded by
Wadham Locke
Sir Philip Charles Durham
Member of Parliament for Devizes
with Sir Philip Charles Durham 1835–1836
James Whitley Deans Dundas 1836–1838
George Heneage Walker Heneage 1838–1884

1835–1844
Succeeded by
George Heneage Walker Heneage
William Heald Ludlow Bruges
Preceded by
Walter Long
Sir Francis Burdett, Bt
Member of Parliament for Wiltshire North
with Walter Long

1844–1865
Succeeded by
Walter Long
Lord Charles Brudenell-Bruce
Political offices
Preceded by
Edward Pleydell Bouverie
President of the Poor Law Board
1858–1859
Succeeded by
Earl of March
Preceded by
Spencer Horatio Walpole
Secretary of State for the Home Department
1859
Succeeded by
Sir George Lewis, Bt.