Sir Thomas Bludder (died 29 September 1655) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1621 and 1640.

Background edit

Bludder was the son of Sir Thomas Bludder of Flanchford Reigate, and his wife Mary Herries, the daughter of Christopher Herries, of Shenfield, Margaretting, Essex. His father was a commissioner of the Victualling Office.[1] He matriculated at Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1614 and graduated BA in 1617. He was admitted to the Inner Temple in 1616 and was knighted in 1618.[2]

In 1621 Bludder was elected Member of Parliament for Gatton. He was elected Member for Reigate in 1624, 1625, 1626 and 1628. He sat until 1629, after which King Charles ruled without Parliament for eleven years.[3] From 1627 to 1628 he was Surveyor of the Ordnance, a Crown appointment.[4] He lodged in Covent Garden.[5]

In April 1640, Bludder was again elected Member for Reigate in the Short Parliament.[3] He was a benefactor of Christ's College.

Bludder died in 1655 and was commemorated by a tablet over the vestry door of the church of St Mary's Church [Wikidata].[1]

Bludder married three times. His third wife who survived him was Elizabeth Bret daughter of Robert Bret.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Parishes: Reigate, A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 3 (1911), pp. 229-245, accessed 19 February 2011
  2. ^ "Bludder, Thomas (BLDR614T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ a b Willis, Browne (1750). Notitia Parliamentaria, Part II: A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541, to the Restoration 1660 ... London. pp. 229–239.
  4. ^ "BLUDDER, Sir Thomas (c.1597-1655), of Flanchford, Reigate, Surr. and St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Bedford Street and Chandos Place Area: Bedford Street Pages 253-263 Survey of London: Volume 36, Covent Garden". British History Online. LCC 1970. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
Parliament of England
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Gatton
1621–1622
With: Sir Thomas Gresham
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Thomas Glemham
Robert Lewis
Member of Parliament for Reigate
1624–1629
With: Robert Lewis 1624
Roger James 1625
William Monson 1626
Charles Cockayne 1628
Parliament suspended until 1640
Parliament suspended since 1629 Member of Parliament for Reigate
1640 (April)
With: Edward Thurland
Succeeded by