Thomas Wood (1708–1799) Explained

Thomas Wood
Honorific Suffix:FRS
Term Start:1779
Term End:1780
Predecessor:John Glynn
John Wilkes
Alongside:John Wilkes
Successor:John Wilkes
George Byng
Birth Date:25 September 1708
Education:Eton College
Alma Mater:Christ Church, Oxford
All Souls College, Oxford
Party:Whig
Children:5
Relations:Thomas Wood (grandson)

Thomas Wood FRS (25 September 1708 – 25 June 1799), was a British politician who briefly sat in the House of Commons from 1779 to 1780.[1]

Early life

Wood was born on 25 September 1708. The seventh son of Edward Wood and Elizabeth (Bridger) Wood (daughter and heiress of Henry Bridger of Bramley, Surrey), he was from Littleton (then in Middlesex, now Surrey).[2] [3]

He was educated at Eton College from 1718 to 1725 before matriculating at Christ Church, Oxford in 1725 and All Souls College, Oxford in 1732.[1]

Career

A barrister, he was called in 1735, made a bencher in 1766, and later served as Treasurer of the Inner Temple where he had been admitted in 1729. In 1748, he succeeded to his brothers estates.[1] A member of the Whig party, he was Member of Parliament for Middlesex from 1779 to 1780.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in February 1761.[4]

Personal life

On 2 October 1743 Wood was married to Anne Jones, daughter of Richard Jones. Together, they were the parents of two sons and three daughters, including:[5]

Wood died on 25 June 1799.[1]

Descendants

Through his son Thomas, he was a grandfather of Thomas Wood (1777–1860), MP for Breconshire from 1806 to 1847; he married Lady Caroline Stewart, daughter of Robert Stewart, 1st Marquess of Londonderry and Frances Stewart, Marchioness of Londonderry (daughter of the Whig politician Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden).[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WOOD, Thomas (1708–99), of Littleton, Mdx.. History of Parliament. 13 June 2021.
  2. Book: Burke's genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry, Volume 2. Burke, John. H. Colburn. 1847. 1627.
  3. http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/29/101029866/ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  4. Web site: Library and Archive Catalogue. Royal Society . 1 November 2010.
  5. Web site: WILLIAMS families, of Gwernyfed, in the parish of Glasbury, Brecknock . biography.wales . . 6 January 2023.
  6. Book: Jones . Theophilus . A History of the County of Brecknock: Containing the Chorography, General History, Religion, Laws, Customs, Manners, Language, and System of Agriculture Used in that County . 1898 . E. Davies . 357 . 6 January 2023 . en.
  7. Web site: WOOD, Thomas (1777-1860), of Gwernyfed, Brec. and Littleton Park, nr. Staines, Mdx.. History of Parliament Online. 2 July 2013.