Thomas Skeffington, 2nd Viscount Ferrard
Encyclopedia
Thomas Henry Skeffington, 2nd Viscount Ferrard (January 1772 – 18 January 1843), styled The Honourable from 1790 until 1821, was an Irish peer and politician
, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons
, and Margaretta Amelia, 1st Viscountess Ferrard.
for Dunleer
in 1793, representing it until the Act of Union
in 1801. Ferrard sat as Member of Parliament
in the British House of Commons
for Drogheda
between 1807 to 1812 and for County Louth
between 1821 to 1824. In 1811 he was appointed High Sheriff of Louth
and in 1818, appointed High Sheriff of Antrim
. He succeeded his mother as second Viscount Ferrard in 1821. However, as this was an Irish peerage
it did not entitle him to a seat in the House of Lords
. In 1828 he succeeded his father in the barony of Oriel, which was in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
, and was able to take a seat in the upper chamber of Parliament.
Background
Born Thomas Henry Foster, he was the son of John Foster, 1st Baron OrielJohn Foster, 1st Baron Oriel
John Foster, 1st Baron Oriel was an Irish peer and politician.He was the son of Anthony Foster of Louth, an Irish judge . He was elected Member of Parliament to the Irish House of Commons for Dunleer in 1761, a seat he held until 1769...
, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
, and Margaretta Amelia, 1st Viscountess Ferrard.
Political career
He entered the Irish House of CommonsIrish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
for Dunleer
Dunleer (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Dunleer was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1801.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Dunleer was not represented.-1692–1801:...
in 1793, representing it until the Act of Union
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
in 1801. Ferrard sat as 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,...
in the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for Drogheda
Drogheda (UK Parliament constituency)
Drogheda was a parliamentary borough constituency in Ireland, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
between 1807 to 1812 and 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...
between 1821 to 1824. In 1811 he was appointed High Sheriff of Louth
High 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...
and in 1818, appointed High Sheriff of Antrim
High Sheriff of Antrim
The High Sheriff of Antrim is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Antrim. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258...
. He succeeded his mother as second Viscount Ferrard in 1821. However, as this was an Irish peerage
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,...
it did not entitle him to a 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....
. In 1828 he succeeded his father in the barony of Oriel, which was 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...
, and was able to take a seat in the upper chamber of Parliament.