Edward Thompson (1697-1742)
Encyclopedia
Edward Thompson was a prominent Yorkshire
politician of the early 18th century and was educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield
.
Thompson was the son of Edward Thompson of Long Marston
(1670–1734) and Lucy Tindall, and the grandson of Henry Thompson
, a wine merchant of York
who established the prominence of the Thompson family. His sister, Henrietta, married Colonel Edward Wolfe
and became the mother of James Wolfe
.
In 1722, Thompson was elected Member of Parliament
for York, a seat he held for the remainder of his life. Employed as a Commissioner of the Land Revenue in Ireland, he issued a pamphlet justifying the introduction of a general excise
there. This, and the pomp with which he carried out his office, aroused the scorn of Jonathan Swift
in 1733 in a polemic against holders of civil office. From 1729 until 1733, he was Grand Master
of the Grand Lodge
of York.
Thompson first married Arabella Dunch (d. 1734), daughter of Edmund Dunch
, on 6 February 1725. By her he had one daughter:
Thompson separated from Arabella , who later bore two children to Sir George Oxenden
. By his second wife, Mary Moor (d. 1784), he had a second daughter:
On 5 May 1741, he was appointed a Commissioner of the Admiralty, but died the following year.
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
politician of the early 18th century and was educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School is an independent school in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. QEGS is distinct from most other schools in that it was founded by Royal Charter of Queen Elizabeth I in 1591 at the request of leading citizens in Wakefield 75 in total and some of whom formed the...
.
Thompson was the son of Edward Thompson of Long Marston
Long Marston, North Yorkshire
Long Marston is a village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the B1224 road from Wetherby to York, west of York...
(1670–1734) and Lucy Tindall, and the grandson of Henry Thompson
Henry Thompson (1625-1683)
Sir Henry Thompson was an English merchant and politician.Henry and his brother Edward Thompson were wine merchants of York. He was Lord Mayor of York in 1663, and was made a deputy lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1665. In 1668, Henry moved from York to a new country estate at...
, a wine merchant of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
who established the prominence of the Thompson family. His sister, Henrietta, married Colonel Edward Wolfe
Edward Wolfe
For Edward Wolfe the Battle of Britain Pilot see Edward Wolfe General Edward Wolfe was a British army officer who saw action in the War of the Spanish Succession, 1715 Jacobite Rebellion and the War of Jenkins Ear...
and became the mother of James Wolfe
James Wolfe
Major General James P. Wolfe was a British Army officer, known for his training reforms but remembered chiefly for his victory over the French in Canada...
.
In 1722, Thompson was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for York, a seat he held for the remainder of his life. Employed as a Commissioner of the Land Revenue in Ireland, he issued a pamphlet justifying the introduction of a general excise
Excise
Excise tax in the United States is a indirect tax on listed items. Excise taxes can be and are made by federal, state and local governments and are far from uniform throughout the United States...
there. This, and the pomp with which he carried out his office, aroused the scorn of Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
in 1733 in a polemic against holders of civil office. From 1729 until 1733, he was Grand Master
Grand Master (Masonic)
In Freemasonry a Grand Master is the leader of the lodges within his Masonic jurisdiction. He presides over a Grand Lodge, and has certain rights in the constituent lodges that form his jurisdiction....
of the Grand Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
of York.
Thompson first married Arabella Dunch (d. 1734), daughter of Edmund Dunch
Edmund Dunch
Edmund Dunch was Master of the Royal Household to Queen Anne and a British Member of Parliament .-Biography:...
, on 6 February 1725. By her he had one daughter:
- Arabella Thompson (d. 28 February 1735)
Thompson separated from Arabella , who later bore two children to Sir George Oxenden
Sir George Oxenden, 5th Baronet
Sir George Oxenden, 5th Baronet was an English Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1720 to 1754....
. By his second wife, Mary Moor (d. 1784), he had a second daughter:
- Mary Thompson (14 September 1738 – 29 June 1747).
On 5 May 1741, he was appointed a Commissioner of the Admiralty, but died the following year.