Thomas Skeffington, 2nd Viscount Ferrard

Thomas Henry Skeffington, 2nd Viscount Ferrard (January 1772 – 18 January 1843), styled The Honourable from 1790 until 1821, was an Irish peer and politician

Background

Born Thomas Henry Foster, he was the son of John Foster, 1st Baron Oriel, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, and Margaretta Amelia, 1st Viscountess Ferrard.[1]

Political career

He entered the Irish House of Commons for Dunleer in 1793, representing it until the Act of Union in 1801. Ferrard sat as Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons for Drogheda[2] between 1807 to 1812 and for County Louth between 1821 to 1824.[3] In 1811 he was appointed High Sheriff of Louth and in 1818, appointed High Sheriff of Antrim.[4] He succeeded his mother as second Viscount Ferrard in 1821. However, as this was an Irish peerage it did not entitle him to a seat in the House of Lords. In 1828 he succeeded his father in the barony of Oriel, which was in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, and was able to take a seat in the upper chamber of Parliament.

Family

Lord Ferrard married Harriet Skeffington, suo jure 9th Viscountess Massereene, daughter of Chichester Skeffington, 4th Earl of Massereene and 8th Viscount Massereene. She died in 1831. Lord Ferrard died in January 1843 and was succeeded by his son, John, who had already succeeded his mother as tenth Viscount Massereene.

References

  1. Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
  2. leighrayment.com
  3. leighrayment.com
  4. Reports from Commissioners - Ireland. vol. XVII. The House of Commons. 1826. p. 106.

External links

Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by
Nicholas Coddington
Hon. John Foster
Member of Parliament for Dunleer
1793 – 1801
With: Nicholas Coddington 1793–1798
Henry Coddington 1798–1800
Quintin Dick 1800–1801
Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Henry Meade-Ogle
Member of Parliament for Drogheda
18071812
Succeeded by
Henry Meade-Ogle
Preceded by
John Foster
John Jocelyn
Member of Parliament for County Louth
1821 – 1826
With: John Jocelyn
Succeeded by
John Jocelyn
John Leslie Foster
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
John Foster
Baron Oriel
1828 – 1843
Succeeded by
John Skeffington
Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by
Margaretta Amelia Foster
Viscount Ferrard
1821 – 1843
Succeeded by
John Skeffington