Sir Thomas Metcalfe, 1st Baronet

Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baronet (8 January 1745 – 17 November 1813), was a British soldier and politician.[1]

Biography edit

Metcalfe was the son of Rev'd Thomas Metcalfe, a chaplain in the British Army, and his wife, Margaret Williams.[2]

Metcalfe was born at Throstle Nest, Gisborough, Cleveland, England. He served as an officer in the army of the East India Company having first traveled to India in 1767, eventually becoming a major in the Bengal Army.[2] He was a Director of the East India Company intermittently between 1789 and 1812, and gained a considerable personal fortune. He purchased the manor of Chilton and the estate of Fernhill at Winkfield in Berkshire,

He was elected Member of Parliament for Abingdon in 1796 as a Tory. He sat for the seat until his defeat at the 1807 general election. Most of his contributions in the Commons related to India and its administration. On 21 December 1802, he was created a baronet, of Chilton in the County of Berkshire, in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.[2] He was High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1809.

Personal life edit

Metcalfe married Susannah Selina Sophia Debonnaire on 18 April 1782, and together they had eight children:

References edit

  1. ^ Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baronet (1745–1813), British Library. Accessed 27 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Robert Henry O'Byrne, The representative history of Great Britain and Ireland, comprising biographical and genealogical notices of the members of parliament from 1 Edward vi., 1547 to 10 Victoria, 1847 (1848), pp. 172–173.
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Abingdon
1796–1800
Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Parliament of Great Britain
Member of Parliament for Abingdon
1801–1807
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
William Congreve
High Sheriff of Berkshire
1809
Succeeded by
Peter Green
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baronet
of Chilton
1802–1813
Succeeded by
Sir Theophilus Metcalfe