Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell

Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell PC (Ire) (1665 – 4 August 1720),[1] known as Sir Thomas Southwell, 2nd Baronet from 1681 to 1717, was an Irish peer and politician.

Thomas, 1st Baron Southwell of Castle Mattress (Balthasar Denner)

Background

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He was the oldest son of Richard Southwell, son of Sir Thomas Southwell, 1st Baronet, and his wife Lady Elizabeth O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin.[2] His younger brothers were William Southwell and Richard Southwell.[3] In 1681, his father having predeceased him, Southwell succeeded his grandfather as baronet.[4] During the Glorious Revolution of 1689, after he led an unsuccessful rising in County Galway, he and his brother were attainted by the parliament of King James II of England.[5] Southwell was also imprisoned, but was released and pardoned the following year.[5]

Career

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In 1695, Southwell entered the Irish House of Commons for County Limerick, representing it until 1713.[6] He was returned for the constituency again from 1715 until August 1717,[6] when he was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Southwell, of Castle Mattress, in the County of Limerick.[7] In 1697, Southwell became a Commissioner of the Revenue, however resigned in 1712.[5] He was reappointed two years later and held this post until his death in 1720.[5] In May 1710, Southwell was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland.[8]

Family

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In April 1696, he married Lady Meliora Coningsby, eldest daughter of Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl Coningsby and his first wife Barbara Gorges.[4] They had six sons and five daughters.[4] Southwell died at Dublin and was buried at Rathkeale.[9] He was succeeded in his titles by his oldest son Thomas.[10] His second son Henry also sat in the Parliament of Ireland.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Leigh Rayment – Peerage". Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ Burke, John (1863). Bernhard Burke (ed.). Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. II. London: Harrison. p. 1738.
  3. ^ "ThePeerage – Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell of Castle Mattress". Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  4. ^ a b c Burke, John (1832). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. Vol. II (4th ed.). London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley. p. 465.
  5. ^ a b c d Lodge, John (1789). Mervyn Archdall (ed.). The Peerage of Ireland or A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom. Vol. VI. Dublin: James Moore. pp. 17–25.
  6. ^ a b "Leigh Rayment – Irish House of Commons 1692–1800". Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "No. 5565". The London Gazette. 17 August 1717. p. 1.
  8. ^ "Leigh Rayment – Privy Council of Ireland". Archived from the original on 7 June 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ a b "Southwell, Thomas (1667-1720)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. Pages 303–304.
  10. ^ Lodge, Edmund (1838). The Genealogy of the Existing British Peerage (6th ed.). London: Saunder and Otley. pp. 462.
Parliament of Ireland
Preceded by Member of Parliament for County Limerick
1695–1713
With: Sir William King 1695–1703
Charles Oliver 1703–1707
George Evans 1707–1713
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for County Limerick
1715–1717
With: Robert Oliver
Succeeded by
Peerage of Ireland
New creation Baron Southwell
1717–1720
Succeeded by
Baronetage of Ireland
Preceded by Baronet
(of Castle Mattress)
1681–1720
Succeeded by