Thomas Orde-Powlett, 1st Baron Bolton PC (30 August 1740 – 30 July 1807) was born Thomas Orde, son of John Orde of Morpeth, Northumberland. He was educated at Eton and at King's College, Cambridge, graduating Master of Arts in 1773.[1]
He entered politics as Tory Member of Parliament for Aylesbury (1780–1784) and later for Harwich (1784–1796). He served as Secretary to the Treasury (1782–1783) and as Chief Secretary for Ireland (1784–1787).
On 7 April 1778 he married Jean Mary Browne-Powlett, the illegitimate daughter of Charles Powlett, 5th Duke of Bolton, who had entailed the greater part of his extensive estates to her in default of male issue of his younger brother Harry Powlett, 6th Duke of Bolton. The sixth Duke died without male heirs in 1794 when the Dukedom became extinct and the Bolton estates passed to Thomas Orde in right of his wife. The properties include Bolton Castle and Bolton Hall, in Yorkshire and Hackwood Park, Old Basing, Hampshire.
Around 1782, he was appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland, and in 1785, to HM Privy Council.
On 7 January 1795, by Royal Licence, he assumed the additional surname of Powlett, and on 20 October 1797 he was created Baron Bolton.
He was Governor of the Isle of Wight (1791–1807) and Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire (1800–1807).
His younger brother John Orde was an Admiral in the Navy, and was created a Baronet, of Morpeth in the County of Northumberland, in 1790.