Thomas Agar-Robartes

Thomas Agar-Robartes MP, circa 1906
Memorial in Truro Cathedral

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.

He was commissioned a second-lieutenant in the Royal 1st Devon Imperial Yeomanry on 4 June 1902.[2] 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[3] 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[4] and in stained glass at Wimpole[5] and Church Norton.[6] His younger brother Francis later succeeded their father in the viscountcy.

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Sir Lewis Molesworth
Member of Parliament for Bodmin
19061906
Succeeded by
Freeman Freeman-Thomas
Preceded by
William Alexander McArthur
Member of Parliament for St Austell
19081915
Succeeded by
Sir Francis Layland-Barratt


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