Sir Thomas Frankland, 3rd Baronet

Sir Thomas Frankland, 3rd Baronet (c. 1685 – 17 April 1747), of Thirkleby in Yorkshire, was an English Whig politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons for over 30 years between 1708 and 1741.

Early life edit

Frankland was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Frankland, 2nd Baronet and Elizabeth Russell (through whom he was a descendant of Oliver Cromwell). He was admitted at Jesus College, Cambridge in 1700. Between 1704 and 1705 he travelled abroad in Italy and studied at Padua University in 1705.[1] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in March, 1707.[2]

Political career edit

Frankland was elected Member of Parliament for Harwich at the 1708 general election and was returned unopposed in 1710. He was returned unopposed as MP for the family borough of Thirsk at the 1713[1] and 1715 general elections. In 1715 he was appointed to the post of Clerk of the Deliveries of the Ordnance which he held until 1722. He was returned unopposed for Thirsk at the 1722 general election and was appointed to the post of Commissioner of Revenue (Ireland) in 1724.[3] He succeeded to the baronetcy on the death of his father on 30 October 1726.[4] Returned again for Thirsk in 1727 he changed post to become a Member of the Board of Trade in 1728. In 1730 he became instead one of the Lords of the Admiralty. He was returned unopposed again at Thirsk at the 1734 and 1741 general elections.[3]

Family and legacy edit

Frankland died on 17 April 1747. He had married twice. Firstly on 5 June 1715, he married Dinah Topham, daughter of Francis Topham of Agelthorpe, by whom he had two daughters:

His second wife was Sarah Moseley (died 1783) whom he married on 9 July 1741 She was 40 years his junior and was left all his property in his will. The will was contested and rejected as being made "while he was under undue influence and while of unsound mind". An earlier will left her the property only for life.

As he had no son, the baronetcy passed to his nephew, Charles, son of his brother Henry Frankland, Governor of Bengal.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "FRANKLAND, Thomas II (c.1685-1747), of Thirkleby, Yorks". History of Parliament Online (1690–1715). Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Library and Archive Catalogue". Royal Society. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b "FRANKLAND, Thomas (c.1683-1747), of Thirkleby Park, nr. Thirsk, Yorks". History of Parliament Online (1715–1754). Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  4. ^ a b Cokayne, George Edward, ed. (1903), Complete Baronetage volume 3 (1649–1664), vol. 3, Exeter: William Pollard and Co, retrieved 9 October 2018
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Harwich
1708–1713
With: Sir John Leake 1708
Kenrick Edisbury 1708–1713
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Thirsk
1713–1747
With: Ralph Bell 1713–1717
Thomas Pitt 1717–1722
Sir William St Quintin 1722–1727
Thomas Robinson 1727–1734
Frederick Meinhardt Frankland 1734–1747
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Clerk of the Deliveries of the Ordnance
1715–1722
Succeeded by
Baronetage of England
Preceded by Baronet
(of Thirkelby)
1726–1747
Succeeded by