Sir Thomas Metcalfe, 1st Baronet explained

Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baronet (8 January 1745 – 17 November 1813), was a British soldier and politician.[1]

Biography

Metcalfe was the son of Rev'd Thomas Metcalfe, a chaplain in the British Army, and his wife, Margaret Williams.[2]

Metcalfe was born at Throstle Nest, Gisborough, Cleveland, England. He served as an officer in the army of the East India Company having first traveled to India in 1767, eventually becoming a major in the Bengal Army.[2] He was a Director of the East India Company intermittently between 1789 and 1812, and gained a considerable personal fortune. He purchased the manor of Chilton and the estate of Fernhill at Winkfield in Berkshire,

He was elected Member of Parliament for Abingdon in 1796 as a Tory. He sat for the seat until his defeat at the 1807 general election. Most of his contributions in the Commons related to India and its administration. On 21 December 1802, he was created a baronet, of Chilton in the County of Berkshire, in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.[2] He was High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1809.

Personal life

Metcalfe married Susannah Selina Sophia Debonnaire on 18 April 1782, and together they had eight children:

Notes and References

  1. http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/indiaofficeselectpd/FullDisplay.aspx?RecordId=015-000008945 Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baronet (1745–1813)
  2. Robert Henry O'Byrne, The representative history of Great Britain and Ireland, comprising biographical and genealogical notices of the members of parliament from 1 Edward vi., 1547 to 10 Victoria, 1847 (1848), pp. 172–173.