Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont

Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont (9 March 1815 – 29 July 1887), was an Irish Whig politician.

Background and education

Fortescue was the son of Chichester Fortescue, of Dromisken, County Louth, by Martha Angel, daughter of Samuel Meade Hobson, a barrister, of Muchridge House, County Cork. The 1st Baron Carlingford was his younger brother. He was a descendant of Chichester Fortescue, of Dromisken, whose brother William Fortescue was the grandfather of The 1st Earl of Clermont. He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford. In 1833 he succeeded to the Ravensdale Park estate upon the death of Sir Henry James Goodricke, 7th Baronet, son of Sir Henry Goodricke, 6th Baronet, by Charlotte, sister of the first Earl of Clermont.^[1]

Political career

Fortescue was High Sheriff of Louth in 1839.^[1] In 1840 he was returned to parliament as one of two representatives for County Louth, a seat he held until the following year.^[1][2] In 1852 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Clermont, of Dromisken in the County of Louth, a revival of the Clermont title held by his kinsman. The peerage was created with special remainder to his younger brother, Chichester. In 1866 he was also created Baron Clermont, of Clermont Park in the County of Louth, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which entitled him to an automatic seat in the House of Lords. This peerage was created with normal remainder to his heirs male.^[1]

Personal life

Lord Clermont married Lady Louisa Grace, daughter of The 1st Marquess of Ormonde, in 1840. There were no children from the marriage. He died at Ravensdale Park in July 1887, aged 72. The English peerage became extinct on his death while he was succeeded in the Irish peerage according to the special remainder by his brother Chichester, who had already been elevated to the peerage in his own right as Baron Carlingford. Lady Clermont died at Ravensdale Park in November 1896, aged 80.^[1]

Publications

Lord Clermont wrote the definitive history of the ancient Fortescue family, titled History of the Family of Fortescue in all its Branches, published 1880 in London. He produced a Supplement in 1885 containing new information following his discovery of two 13th-century Fortescue charters in Eton College library.

References

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Mr Thomas Fortescue