Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Earl of Thanet | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the English Parliament for Appleby | |
| In office 1668–1679 | |
| Preceded by |
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| Succeeded by | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 August 1644 |
| Died | 30 July 1729 (aged 84) |
| Party | Tory |
| Spouse |
Lady Catharine Cavendish
(m. 1684; died 1712) |
| Children | |
| Parents |
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Thomas Tufton, 6th Earl of Thanet, PC (30 August 1644 – 30 July 1729)[1] was an English politician.[2]
He was the fourth son of John Tufton, 2nd Earl of Thanet and his wife Lady Margaret Sackville, Baroness Clifford and inherited the title on the death in 1684 of his elder brother Richard Tufton, 5th Earl of Thanet.[1] Through his maternal grandmother, he was heir to the Barony de Clifford and to vast estates in Cumberland and Westmorland.[1] He served as hereditary High Sheriff of Westmorland from 1684 to 1729.[1]
Career
He gained the rank of captain in the service of the Troop of Horse.[3] He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Appleby between 1668 and 1679.[3] He succeeded to the title of 6th Earl of the Isle of Thanet, co. Kent [E., 1628] on 27 April 1680.[3] He gained the rank of colonel in 1685 in the service of the Regiment of Horse (5th Horse).[3] He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Westmorland between 1685 and 1687.[3] He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Cumberland between 1685 and 1687.[3] He succeeded to the title of 18th Lord Clifford [E., 1299] on 12 December 1691, resolved by the House of Lords.[1] He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) from 1703 to 1707 and 1711 to 1714.[3] He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Cumberland between 1712 and 1714.[3]
In 1703, he was sworn a Privy Counsellor. A country gentleman and a Tory, he was noted by Swift for his "piety and charity".
