Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth

Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth, PC (c.1627 – 3 November 1687) succeeded to his family's estate around Hewell Grange near Redditch in 1645, the same year he distinguished himself in the Battle of Naseby. Hickman-Windsor impressed King Charles I by relieving his garrison at High Ercall.

Upon the Restoration, the title of Baron Windsor was called out of abeyance in his favour, on 16 June 1660. From 1661 to 1663, he served as Governor of Jamaica.

He acquired the Navigation of the Warwickshire Avon from James, Duke of York and employed Andrew Yarranton to restore Pershore Sluice, thus restoring navigation from Tewkesbury to Evesham. He then sold two-thirds of the navigation above Evesham to Andrew Yarranton and others, who restored the navigation from there to Stratford-upon-Avon. He and George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol financed Andrew Yarranton's ultimately unsuccessful attempts to improve the River Salwarpe and River Stour to make them navigable.

On 6 December 1682, Windsor was created the first Earl of Plymouth, a new creation with the previous title holder having been Charles FitzCharles, 1st Earl of Plymouth (1675-1680). He was succeeded by his grandson Other Windsor.

Family

He married, firstly, Anne Savile, daughter of Sir William Savile, 3rd Baronet, on 12 May 1656. They had three children:

On 9 April 1668, he married, secondly, Ursula Widdrington, daughter of Sir Thomas Widdrington. They had six children:

Honorary titles
English Interregnum Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire
1660–1662
Succeeded by
The Earl of Southampton
Preceded by
The Earl of Southampton
Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire
1663–1687
Succeeded by
The Viscount Carrington
Military offices
Preceded by
Edward D'Oyley
Governor of Jamaica
1662
Succeeded by
Charles Lyttleton
as acting Deputy Governor of Jamaica
Preceded by
The Earl of Mulgrave
Governor of Kingston-upon-Hull
1682–1687
Succeeded by
The Lord Langdale
Peerage of England
New creation Earl of Plymouth
1682–1687
Succeeded by
Other Windsor
Preceded by
Abeyant
Baron Windsor
1660–1687