COVENTRY, Thomas Henry, Visct. Deerhurst (1721-44), of Croome Court, Worcs.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

2 Apr. 1742 - 20 May 1744

Family and Education

b. 27 Mar. 1721, 1st s. of William Coventry, 5th Earl of Coventry, and bro. of George William, Visct. Deerhurst and Hon. John Bulkeley Coventry. educ. Winchester 1730-7; Univ. Coll. Oxf. 1737. unm.

Offices Held

Biography

In 1741, after an attempted compromise with the Tories, Lord Deerhurst, then a minor, and George Lyttelton unsuccessfully contested Worcestershire on their respective fathers’ joint interests. After their defeat, according to Horace Walpole (to Mann, 23 Nov. 1741), Lord Coventry ‘went to Carlton House; the Prince asked him about the election; "Sir", said he, "the Tories have betrayed me, as they will you, the first time you have occasion for them"'. However, Lord Coventry was able to provide his son with a seat at Bridport in place of William Bowles, who had opted to serve for Bewdley. In Parliament Deerhurst voted against the Hanoverians in 1742 and 1744. On his death v.p., 20 May 1744, the London Evening Post praised 'his sincerity and impartiality in that he adhered to neither party, though he knew that was the way to displease both'.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: R. S. Lea

Notes