Thomas Foley (auditor of the imprests)

Thomas Foley (c.1670 – 10 December 1737) held the sinecure office of auditor of the imprests. He was the eldest son of Paul Foley, Speaker of the House of Commons and ironmaster, and succeeded to his estates around Stoke Edith, Herefordshire on his father's death in 1699.

Thomas Foley was Member of Parliament for Hereford from 1700 to 1722 and for Stafford from 1722 to 1727 and again from 1734 until his death. Throughout this period, he was the leading ironmaster in the Forest of Dean. Initially this business was managed by John Wheeler and then by William Rea, until Rea was sacked in 1725. From that time the number of ironworks operated by his business, latterly without outside partners gradually declined.

He and his wife Anne, daughter and heir of Essex Knightley of Fawsley, Northamptonshire had one son Thomas Foley (c 1695-1749), and two daughters, Anne and Mary.

References

Political offices
Preceded by
Edward Harley
Arthur Mainwaring
Auditor of the imprests
17131737
With: Edward Harley
William Benson
Succeeded by
William Benson
William Aislabie
Parliament of England
Preceded by
Robert Price
John Birch
Member of Parliament for Weobley
1691–1701
With: Robert Price
Succeeded by
Henry Cornewall
John Birch
Preceded by
James Brydges
Samuel Pytts
Member of Parliament for Hereford
1701–1707
With: James Brydges
Succeeded by
Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Parliament of England
Member of Parliament for Hereford
1707–1722
With: James Brydges 1707–1714
The Viscount Scudamore 1715–1716
Herbert Rudhale Westfaling 1717–1722
Succeeded by
Herbert Rudhale Westfaling
William Mayo
Preceded by
The 1st Viscount Chetwynd
William Chetwynd
Member of Parliament for Stafford
1722–1727
With: John Dolphin 1722–1724
Francis Elde 1724–1725
The 1st Viscount Chetwynd 1725–1727
Succeeded by
The 1st Viscount Chetwynd
Joseph Gascoigne Nightingale
Preceded by
The 1st Viscount Chetwynd
Joseph Gascoigne Nightingale
Member of Parliament for Stafford
1734–1737
With: William Chetwynd
Succeeded by
William Chetwynd
The 2nd Viscount Chetwynd