Sir Thomas Birch, 2nd Baronet explained

Sir Thomas Bernard Birch, 2nd Baronet DL (18 March 1791 – 3 March 1880)^[1] was a British baronet and Whig politician.

He was the only son of Sir Joseph Birch, 1st Baronet and his wife Elizabeth Mary, third daughter of Benjamin Heywood.^[2] Birch was educated at Rugby School and went then to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1813 and a Master of Arts three years later. In 1817, he was called to the bar by Lincoln's Inn and in 1833, he succeeded his father as baronet.^[3]

From 1827 Birch was private secretary to William Lamb (later Lord Melbourne) in his capacity as Chief Secretary for Ireland.^[4] He was appointed High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1841 and served as a Deputy Lieutenant for that county.^[3] In 1847, he entered the British House of Commons, sitting for Liverpool until 1852.^[5]

Birch was unmarried and childless.^[4] With his death the baronetcy became extinct.^[1]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Leigh Rayment - Baronetage . https://web.archive.org/web/20080501224758/http://www.leighrayment.com/baronetage/baronetsB3.htm . 1 May 2008 . usurped . 24 November 2009 .
2. Book: Walford, Edward . The County Families of the United Kingdom . 1860 . Robert Hardwicke . London . 53 .
3. Book: Dod, Charles R. . The Parliamentary Companion . 1847 . Whitaker and Co. . London . 131 .
4. Book: Dod, Robert P. . Charles Dod

   . Charles Dod . The Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of Great Britain and Ireland . 1860 . Whitaker and Co. . London . 118 .

5. Web site: Leigh Rayment - British House of Commons, Liverpool . https://web.archive.org/web/20081029034529/http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/lcommons3.htm . 29 October 2008 . usurped . 24 November 2009 .