Thomas Southwell, 2nd Baron Southwell PC (Ire), FRS (7 January 1698 – 19 November 1766),[1] styled The Honourable from 1717 until 1720, was an Irish peer, politician and freemason.
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He was the oldest son of Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell and his wife Lady Meliora Coningsby, eldest daughter of Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl Coningsby.[2] His uncles were William Southwell and Richard Southwell, his younger brother was Henry Southwell.[3] In 1743, Southwell became Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, a position he held until the following year.[4]
In 1717, Southwell entered the Irish House of Commons for Limerick County, the same constituency his father had represented before,[1] and sat for it until 1720, when he succeeded him also as baron.[5] In 1726, Southwell was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland.[6] He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1735[7] and was Governor of County Limerick until his resignation in 1762.[8]
In March 1719, he married Mary Coke, eldest daughter of Thomas Coke, and by her he had three sons.[8] Southwell died at Craig's Court, Charing Cross, aged 68 and was succeeded in his titles by his eldest surviving son Thomas.[8] His younger brother, Edmund Southwell, "lived in intimacy with"[9] Samuel Johnson for many years, and was the first to introduce the great Shakespearean scholar Edmond Malone to him.[9]
Parliament of Ireland | ||
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Preceded by Sir Thomas Southwell, 2nd Bt Robert Oliver |
Member of Parliament for Limerick County 1717 – 1720 With: Robert Oliver |
Succeeded by Eyre Evans Robert Oliver |
Masonic offices | ||
Preceded by The Lord Moore of Tullamore |
Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland 1743 – 1744 |
Succeeded by The Viscount Allen |
Peerage of Ireland | ||
Preceded by Thomas Southwell |
Baron Southwell 1720 – 1766 |
Succeeded by Thomas Southwell |