Thomas Clarges

For other people named Thomas Clarges, see Thomas Clarges (disambiguation).

Sir Thomas Clarges (c 1618 - 4 October 1695) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1656 and 1695. He played an important part in bringing about the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

Clarges was the son of John Clarges and his wife Anne Leaver. He was an apothecary in London.[1]. In 1656, Clarges became Member of Parliament for the Sheriffdoms of Ross, Sutherland, and Cromarty in the Second Protectorate Parliament. In 1659 he was MP for the Boroughs of Banff and Cullen, and Aberdeen and for the Boroughs of Peebles, Selkirk, Jedburgh, Lauder, North Berwick, Dunbar and Haddington in the Third Protectorate Parliament.[2] His sister Anne was, wife of General George Monck. When Richard Cromwell became Lord Protector he sent for Clarges to prevail with him to go immediately to Scotland with his letters to Monck, to obtain Monck's view of his protectorate. advancement. Clarges became Monck's main agent as he set about planning the Restoration.[1]

In April 1660, Clarges was elected Member of Parliament for Westminster in the Convention Parliament.[3] On 5 May Monck sent Clarges as an envoy to Charles II at Breda carrying a letter from the general, in an answer to a letter from Charles, and the address of the officers of the army pledging support. Monck also wrote another short letter in his own hand telling Charles that "he chose to send Mr. Clarges to him, because he was the only person to be trusted in the nearest concernments and consultations, for his restoration, as one, to whom he desired his majesty to give credit to what he should say on that behalf."[1] Clarges was well received and was knighted at Breda in May 1660.[4]

In 1666 Clarges was elected MP Southwark in the Cavalier Parliament and sat until 1679.[5] He was elected MP for Christchurch in 1679 and sat until 1685.[6] He was elected MP for Oxford University in 1689 and sat until his death in 1695.[7]

Clarges died at his house in Piccadilly, in London.

Clarges married Mary Proctor, daughter of George Proctor, of Norwell Woodhouse, in Nottinghamshire. They had a son Walter who became baronet.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d William Betham, The Baronetage of England: or The History of the English baronets ..., Volume 2
  2. ^ Browne Willis Notitia parliamentaria, or, An history of the counties, cities, and boroughs in England and Wales: ... The whole extracted from mss. and printed evidences 1750 pp229-239
  3. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 3)
  4. ^ Knights of England
  5. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "S" (part 4)
  6. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 4)
  7. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "O"