Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont
Encyclopedia
Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont (9 March 1815 – 29 July 1887), was an Irish Whig politician.
, of Dromisken, County Louth
, by Martha Angel, daughter of Samuel Meade Hobson, a barrister, of Muchridge House, County Cork
. Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford
was his younger brother. He was a descendant of Chichester Fortescue, of Dromisken, whose brother William Fortescue was the grandfather of William Fortescue, 1st Earl of Clermont
. He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford
. In 1833 he succeeded to the Ravensdale Park
estate in Derbyshire
on the death of Sir Henry James Goodricke, 7th Baronet, son of Sir Henry Goodricke, 6th Baronet, by Charlotte, sister of the first Earl of Clermont.
in 1839. In 1840 he was returned to parliament as one of two representatives for County Louth
, a seat he held until the following year. In 1852 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland
as Baron Clermont, of Dromisken in the County of Louth, a revival of the Clermont title held by his kinsman. The peerage was created with special remainder
to his younger brother, Chichester. In 1866 he was also created Baron Clermont, of Clermont Park in the County of Louth, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
, which entitled him to an automatic seat in the House of Lords
. This peerage was created with normal remainder to his heirs male.
, in 1840. There were no children from the marriage. He died at Ravensdale Park in July 1887, aged 72. The English peerage became extinct on his death while he was succeeded in the Irish peerage according to the special remainder by his brother Chichester, who had already been elevated to the peerage in his own right as Baron Carlingford. Lady Clermont died at Ravensdale Park in November 1896, aged 80.
Background and education
Fortescue was the son of Chichester FortescueChichester Fortescue (1777–1826)
Chichester Fortescue briefly served as an Irish Member of Parliament.He was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Hillsborough in January 1800 but lost his seat when the Parliament of Ireland was abolished by the Act of Union 1800.He was son of Thomas Fortescue and father of Thomas Fortescue,...
, of Dromisken, County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
, by Martha Angel, daughter of Samuel Meade Hobson, a barrister, of Muchridge House, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford
Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford
Chichester Samuel Parkinson-Fortescue, 2nd Baron Clermont and 1st Baron Carlingford KP, PC , known as Chichester Fortescue until 1863 and as Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue between 1863 and 1874, Lord Carlingford from 1874 to 1887 and Lord Clermont after 1887, was a British statesman and Liberal...
was his younger brother. He was a descendant of Chichester Fortescue, of Dromisken, whose brother William Fortescue was the grandfather of William Fortescue, 1st Earl of Clermont
William Fortescue, 1st Earl of Clermont
William Henry Fortescue, 1st Earl of Clermont KP was an Irish peer and politician.He served as High Sheriff of Louth in 1746. He became Earl of Clermont in 1777 and was appointed a Knight Founder of the Order of St Patrick on 30 March 1795...
. He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
. In 1833 he succeeded to the Ravensdale Park
Ravensdale Park
Ravensdale Park is a village and civil parish in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire roughly WSW of Belper, Derbyshire England, midway between Turnditch and Brailsford.It originated as one of the seven royal parks within Duffield Frith...
estate in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
on the death of Sir Henry James Goodricke, 7th Baronet, son of Sir Henry Goodricke, 6th Baronet, by Charlotte, sister of the first Earl of Clermont.
Political career
Fortescue was High Sheriff of LouthHigh Sheriff of Louth
The High Sheriff of Louth was the Crown's representative for County Louth, a territory known as his bailiwick. Selected from three nominated people, he holds his office over the duration of a year. He has judicial, ceremonial and administrative functions and executes High Court Writs.-History:The...
in 1839. In 1840 he was returned to parliament as one of two representatives for County Louth
County Louth (UK Parliament constituency)
County Louth, otherwise known as Louth County or Louth, is a former parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, a seat he held until the following year. In 1852 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
as Baron Clermont, of Dromisken in the County of Louth, a revival of the Clermont title held by his kinsman. The peerage was created with special remainder
Remainder
In arithmetic, the remainder is the amount "left over" after the division of two integers which cannot be expressed with an integer quotient....
to his younger brother, Chichester. In 1866 he was also created Baron Clermont, of Clermont Park in the County of Louth, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
, which entitled him to an automatic seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. This peerage was created with normal remainder to his heirs male.
Personal life
Lord Clermont married Lady Louisa Grace, daughter of James Butler, 1st Marquess of OrmondeJames Butler, 1st Marquess of Ormonde
James Wandesford Butler, 1st Marquess of Ormonde KP was an Irish nobleman and politician. He was the second son of John Butler, 17th Earl of Ormonde and Frances Susan Elizabeth Wandesford....
, in 1840. There were no children from the marriage. He died at Ravensdale Park in July 1887, aged 72. The English peerage became extinct on his death while he was succeeded in the Irish peerage according to the special remainder by his brother Chichester, who had already been elevated to the peerage in his own right as Baron Carlingford. Lady Clermont died at Ravensdale Park in November 1896, aged 80.