Thomas Wentworth Beaumont
Encyclopedia
Thomas Wentworth Beaumont (5 November 1792 – 20 December 1848) was a British
politician and soldier. In 1831, at the time he inherited his mother's estate, he was the richest commoner
in England.
, he was the oldest son of Thomas Richard Beaumont
and Diana Wentworth, daughter of Sir Thomas Wentworth, 5th Baronet. Beaumont was educated at Eton
and St John's College, Cambridge
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1813. He served as lieutenant-colonel of the Northumberland Militia, but resigned in 1824. In 1826, he fought a duel with John Lambton
later Earl of Durham
. He was president of the Polish Literary Institution and a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron
.
(MP) for Northumberland
, the same constituency his father had represented before. He lost this seat in 1826, however was successful for Stafford
in a by-election
in 1826. After the general election of 1830
Beaumont was returned again for Northumberland, until in 1832, the constituency was split into a north and south division. Beaumont was elected for the latter, and sat then for South Northumberland
until his retirement from politic in 1837. Initially a Tory
, he was considered a Liberal
from 1820.
was created Baron Allendale in 1906, and his third son Somerset Archibald sat in the House of Commons
for Newcastle-upon-Tyne
and Wakefield
. Beaumont died, aged 56, at Bournemouth
and was buried at Bretton Hall
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician and soldier. In 1831, at the time he inherited his mother's estate, he was the richest commoner
Commoner
In British law, a commoner is someone who is neither the Sovereign nor a peer. Therefore, any member of the Royal Family who is not a peer, such as Prince Harry of Wales or Anne, Princess Royal, is a commoner, as is any member of a peer's family, including someone who holds only a courtesy title,...
in England.
Background
Born in Old Burlington Street in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he was the oldest son of Thomas Richard Beaumont
Thomas Richard Beaumont
Colonel Thomas Richard Beaumont was a British Tory politician and soldier.He was the son of Thomas Beaumont and his wife Anne Ayscough, daughter of Edward Ayscough. Beaumont raised the 21st Light Dragoons in 1794 and afterwards served as the regiment's colonel until 1802...
and Diana Wentworth, daughter of Sir Thomas Wentworth, 5th Baronet. Beaumont was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1813. He served as lieutenant-colonel of the Northumberland Militia, but resigned in 1824. In 1826, he fought a duel with John Lambton
John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham
John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham GCB, PC , also known as "Radical Jack" and commonly referred to in history texts simply as Lord Durham, was a British Whig statesman, colonial administrator, Governor General and high commissioner of British North America...
later Earl of Durham
Earl of Durham
Earl of Durham is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1833 for the prominent Whig politician and colonial official John Lambton, 1st Baron Durham. Known as "Radical Jack", he played a leading role in the passing of the Great Reform Act of 1832...
. He was president of the Polish Literary Institution and a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron
Royal Yacht Squadron
The Royal Yacht Squadron is the most prestigious yacht club in the United Kingdom and arguably the world. Its clubhouse is located in Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom...
.
Career
In 1816, Beaumont stood as Member of ParliamentMember 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 Northumberland
Northumberland (UK Parliament constituency)
Northumberland, was a County constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament.The constituency was split into two...
, the same constituency his father had represented before. He lost this seat in 1826, however was successful for Stafford
Stafford (UK Parliament constituency)
Stafford is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. The sitting MP is the Conservative Jeremy Lefroy....
in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in 1826. After the general election of 1830
United Kingdom general election, 1830
The 1830 United Kingdom general election, was triggered by the death of King George IV and produced the first parliament of the reign of his successor, William IV. Fought in the aftermath of the Swing Riots, it saw electoral reform become a major election issue...
Beaumont was returned again for Northumberland, until in 1832, the constituency was split into a north and south division. Beaumont was elected for the latter, and sat then for South Northumberland
South Northumberland (UK Parliament constituency)
South Northumberland was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
until his retirement from politic in 1837. Initially a Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
, he was considered a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
from 1820.
Family
On 22 November 1827, Beaumont married Henrietta Jane Emma Hawks Atkinson, daughter of John Atkinson. They had two daughters and four sons. His oldest son Wentworth BlackettWentworth Beaumont, 1st Baron Allendale
Wentworth Blackett Beaumont, 1st Baron Allendale was a British industrialist and Liberal politician.Allendale was the eldest son of Thomas Beaumont and his wife Henrietta Jane Emma, daughter of John Atkinson, and was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge...
was created Baron Allendale in 1906, and his third son Somerset Archibald sat in the 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 Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK Parliament constituency)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne was a borough constituency in the county of Northumberland of the House of Commons of England to 1706 then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
and Wakefield
Wakefield (UK Parliament constituency)
Wakefield is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
. Beaumont died, aged 56, at Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
and was buried at Bretton Hall
Bretton Hall
Bretton Hall is a country house in West Bretton near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It housed Bretton Hall College and was a campus of the University of Leeds...
.