Thomas Agar-Robartes

Thomas Agar-Robartes MP, circa 1906

Thomas Charles Reginald Agar-Robartes (known as Tommy) (22 May 1880 – 30 September 1915) was a British Liberal politician.

Tommy Agar-Robartes was the eldest son and heir of Thomas Agar-Robartes, 6th Viscount Clifden, and his wife Mary (née Dickenson) and was brought up at Lanhydrock House, Bodmin. Educated at Oxford and a keen horseman, he played in the Oxford University polo team that beat Cambridge in 1903.[1]

He was elected a Member of Parliament for Bodmin in the 1906 general election, but lost his seat in June 1906 following a controversial election petition by the defeated candidate alleging illegal payments to potential voters. He was elected to the St Austell Division of Cornwall in a by-election in 1908 and held the seat until his death.

At the outbreak of World War I he joined the Royal Bucks Hussars as an officer. Tommy then joined the Coldstream Guards and was subsequently posted to France & Flanders. Captain The Honourable Thomas Charles Reginald Agar-Robartes, in command of No. 2 Coy, 1st Bn, the Coldstream Guards, was wounded in the Battle of Loos on 28 September and killed by a sniper on 30 September 1915[2] after rescuing a wounded comrade under heavy fire for which he was recommended for the Victoria Cross.

He is buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, near Béthune. He is commemorated by a memorial in Truro Cathedral[3] and in stained glass at Wimpole[4] and Church Norton.[5] His younger brother Francis later succeeded their father in the viscountcy.

Notes

  1. ↑ "The Polo Monthly". 19 January 191111. p. 334. Retrieved 10 August 2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ↑ CWGC entry
  3. ↑ http://ww1cemeteries.com/british_cemeteries_memorials/agar_robartes_mem_truro.htm
  4. ↑ Wimpole Parish Church at www.wimpole.info
  5. ↑ West Sussex County Council: Heritage at victorians.westsussex.gov.uk

References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Sir Lewis Molesworth		 Member of Parliament for Bodmin
1906–1906 		Succeeded by
Freeman Freeman-Thomas
Preceded by
William Alexander McArthur		 Member of Parliament for St Austell
1908–1915 		Succeeded by
Sir Francis Layland-Barratt