Thomas Stanwix

Thomas Stanwix
Born 1670
Died 14 March 1725
Allegiance  Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch British Army
Rank Brigadier General
Battles/wars War of the Spanish Succession

Brigadier General Thomas Stanwix (1670 – 14 March 1725) was a British Army officer, politician and Governor of Gibraltar.

Career

Stanwix joined the Army and had become a captain-lieutenant in Hasting's Foot Regiment by 1692.[1] In March 1702 he was elected Member of Parliament for Carlisle.[1] He was appointed Lieutenant-Governor for Carlisle in 1705 and found that his main challenge was stopping the smuggling across the border between England and Scotland.[1]

In 1703, during the War of the Spanish Succession, he was present at the Battle of Caia in Portugal.[1] In 1711 he became Governor of Gibraltar.[1] Except from a personal perspective he was unsuccessful as a governor, as his main achievement was to become richer than when he arrived. Observers felt that he should have concentrated on encouraging the Dutch to leave so that the benefits of the Capture of Gibraltar (in 1704) could be directed entirely in Britain's direction. Stanwick was tenacious as even when he was replaced by David Colyear he stayed on as lieutenant-governor for some months.[1]

In 1713 in returned to England and became Mayor of Carlisle for 1715 as well as Deputy Lieutenant of Cumberland, thereby increasing his influence in the Carlisle area.[1] He was a Whig MP who strongly supported Robert Walpole.[1]

He lost his seat in Carlisle and, in 1721, instead became MP for Newport as well as Governor of Kingston-upon-Hull (1721 to his death). In 1722 he became MP for Yarmouth .[1]

He was also Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 1714 until 1720.[2]

He died in 1725.[1]

References

Parliament of England
Preceded by
Sir James Lowther
Philip Howard
Member of Parliament for Carlisle
1702–1707
With: Christopher Musgrave 1702–1705
Sir James Montague 1705–1707
Succeeded by
Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Parliament of England
Member of Parliament for Carlisle
1707–1721
With: Sir James Montagu 1707–1713
Sir Christopher Musgrave, Bt 1713–1715
William Strickland 1715–1721
Succeeded by
Henry Aglionby
William Strickland
Preceded by
William Stephens
Sir Tristram Dillington
Member of Parliament for Newport
1721–1722
With: William Stephens
Succeeded by
William Stephens
Earl of March
Preceded by
Anthony Morgan
William Plumer
Member of Parliament for Yarmouth
1722–1725
With: Anthony Morgan
Succeeded by
Anthony Morgan
Maurice Morgan
Government offices
Preceded by
Roger Elliott
Governor of Gibraltar
1711–1720
Succeeded by
Earl of Portmore
Preceded by
The Viscount of Irvine
Governor of Kingston-upon-Hull
1721–1725
Succeeded by
The Earl of Cholmondeley
Honorary titles
Preceded by
John Hales
Governor, Royal Hospital Chelsea
1714–1720
Succeeded by
Charles Churchill