Thomas Knight (MP for Canterbury)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Knight previously Thomas Brodnax (1701–1726) and Thomas May (1727–1738) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
from 1734 to 1741.
Knight was the son of William Brodnax of Godmersham
and his wife Anne May. In 1726, he changed his name by Act of Parliament to May on inheriting May estates at Rawmere. In 1732 he rebuilt his seat at Godmersham.
As May, he was elected Member of Parliament
(MP) for Canterbury
in 1734, and held the seat until 1741. In 1738, he changed his name by Act of Parliament to Knight after inheriting estates under the will of Elizabeth Knight, widow of Bulstrode Peachy Knight (who was her second husband, her first being William Knight of Dean). In 1742 he enclosed a park round his seat at Godmersham.
Knight died at Godmersham in 1781, "a gentleman, whose eminent worth is still remembered by many now living; whose high character for upright conduct and integrity, rendered his life as honorable as it was good, and caused his death to be lamented by every one as a public loss".
May married Jane Monke, daughter of William Monke of Shoreham at Grey's Inn Chape on 11 July 1729. Their son Thomas
inherited the estate and was later MP for Kent.
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
from 1734 to 1741.
Knight was the son of William Brodnax of Godmersham
Godmersham
Godmersham is a village and civil parish in the Ashford District of Kent, England. The village is located on the Great Stour river where it cuts through the North Downs...
and his wife Anne May. In 1726, he changed his name by Act of Parliament to May on inheriting May estates at Rawmere. In 1732 he rebuilt his seat at Godmersham.
As May, he 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,...
(MP) for Canterbury
Canterbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Canterbury is a county constituency which has been represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom since 1918. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in 1734, and held the seat until 1741. In 1738, he changed his name by Act of Parliament to Knight after inheriting estates under the will of Elizabeth Knight, widow of Bulstrode Peachy Knight (who was her second husband, her first being William Knight of Dean). In 1742 he enclosed a park round his seat at Godmersham.
Knight died at Godmersham in 1781, "a gentleman, whose eminent worth is still remembered by many now living; whose high character for upright conduct and integrity, rendered his life as honorable as it was good, and caused his death to be lamented by every one as a public loss".
May married Jane Monke, daughter of William Monke of Shoreham at Grey's Inn Chape on 11 July 1729. Their son Thomas
Thomas Knight (MP for Kent)
Thomas Knight was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1761 and 1780.Knight was the son of Thomas Knight of Godmersham and his wife Jane Monke....
inherited the estate and was later MP for Kent.