John Tufton, 2nd Earl of Thanet

John Tufton, 2nd Earl of Thanet (15 December 1608 – 7 May 1664) was an English nobleman and supporter of Charles I of England. He was the eldest son of Nicholas Tufton, 1st Earl of Thanet, and Lady Frances Cecil, granddaughter of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley.

John Tufton, 2nd Earl of Thanet
Portrait of John Tufton (1609–1664), 2nd Earl of Thanet painted by William Dobson (1611–1646) held by the Abbot Hall Art Gallery
Born15 December 1608
Died7 May 1664(1664-05-07) (aged 55)
Spouse(s)
Lady Margaret Sackville
(m. 1629)
Issue
FatherNicholas Tufton, 1st Earl of Thanet
MotherLady Frances Cecil
Portrait of John Tufton (1609–1664), 2nd Earl of Thanet painted by John Michael Wright (1617–1694) held by the Abbot Hall Art Gallery

Career edit

Thanet was a staunch Cavalier, taking part in the Battle of Edge Hill and in 1642 he led a regiment of 100 horse to try to raise a rebellion in Sussex, taking part in the Capture of Chichester, the Battle of Muster Green, and the Siege of Chichester in support of Sir William Brockman in Kent. However, Brockman's revolt quickly collapsed, and Thanet was forced to surrender. He suffered considerably from confiscations and sequestrations of his large estates during the English Civil War.

Among his properties was Bodiam Castle, purchased from the Levett family in 1639, which Thanet sold for £6,000 in 1644.[1]

Personal life edit

 
Painting of 2nd Earl of Thanet and his wife, Lady Margaret Sackville (1614-1676)

On 21 April 1629, he married Lady Margaret Sackville (1614–1676), daughter of Richard Sackville, 3rd Earl of Dorset and Lady Anne Clifford. They had eleven children:

 
Lady Margaret Sackville (1614-1676), Countess of Thanet by Peter Lely

Curiously, he was succeeded as Earl of Thanet by four of his sons in succession, the first three having no issue.

References edit

Notes
  1. ^ Thackray 2004, p. 24.
  2. ^ Jessica L. Malay, Anne Clifford's Autobiographical Writing, 1590-1676 (Manchester, 2018), p. 129.
Bibliography
  • Thackray, David (2004) [1991], Bodiam Castle, The National Trust, ISBN 978-1-84359-090-3

External links edit

Peerage of England
Preceded by Earl of Thanet
1632–1664
Succeeded by