Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell

Thomas, 1st Baron Southwell of Castle Mattress (Balthasar Denner)

Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell PC (Ire) (1665 – 4 August 1720),[1] known as Sir Thomas Southwell, 2nd Baronet from 1681 to 1717, was an Irish peer and politician.

Background

He was the oldest son of Richard Southwell, son of Sir Thomas Southwell, 1st Baronet, and his wife Lady Elizabeth O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin.[2] His younger brothers were William Southwell and Richard Southwell.[3] In 1681, his father having predeceased him, Southwell succeeded his grandfather as baronet.[4] During the Glorious Revolution of 1689, he and his brother were attainted by the parliament of King James II of England.[5] Southwell was also imprisoned, however released and pardoned in the following year.[5]

Career

In 1695, Southwell entered the Irish House of Commons for Limerick County, representing it until 1713.[6] He was returned for the constituency again from 1715 until August 1717,[6] when he was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Southwell, of Castle Mattress, in the County of Limerick.[7] In 1697, Southwell became a Commissioner of the Revenue, however resigned in 1712.[5] He was reappointed two years later and held this post until his death in 1720.[5] In May 1710, Southwell was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland.[8]

Family

In April 1696, he married Lady Meliora Coningsby, eldest daughter of Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl Coningsby.[4] They had six sons and five daughters.[4] Southwell died at Dublin and was buried at Rathkeale.[9] He was succeeded in his titles by his oldest son Thomas.[10] His second son Henry sat also in the Parliament of Ireland.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Leigh Rayment - Peerage". Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  2. ↑ Burke, John (1863). Bernhard Burke, ed. Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland. vol. II. London: Harrison. p. 1738.
  3. ↑ "ThePeerage - Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell of Castle Mattress". Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Burke, John (1832). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. vol. II (4th ed.). London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley. p. 465.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lodge, John (1789). Mervyn Archdall, ed. The Peerage of Ireland or A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom. vol. VI. Dublin: James Moore. pp. 17–25.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Leigh Rayment - Irish House of Commons 1692-1800". Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 5565. p. 1. 17 August 1717. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  8. ↑ "Leigh Rayment - Privy Council of Ireland".
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1  "Southwell, Thomas (1667-1720)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. Pages 303–304.
  10. ↑ Lodge, Edmund (1838). The Genealogy of the Existing British Peerage (6th ed.). London: Saunder and Otley. p. 462.
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by
George Evans
Sir William King		 Member of Parliament for Limerick County
1695–1713
With: Sir William King 1695–1703
Charles Oliver 1703–1707
George Evans 1707–1713		 Succeeded by
George King
George Evans
Preceded by
George King
George Evans		 Member of Parliament for Limerick County
1715–1717
With: Robert Oliver		 Succeeded by
Hon. Thomas Southwell
Robert Oliver
Peerage of Ireland
New creation Baron Southwell
1717–1720 		Succeeded by
Thomas Southwell
Baronetage of Ireland
Preceded by
Thomas Southwell		 Baronet
(of Castle Mattress)
1681–1720 		Succeeded by
Thomas Southwell