LYTTELTON, Sir Thomas, 4th Bt. (1686-1751), of Hagley Hall, Worcs.

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

Constituency

Dates

6 Mar. 1721 - 1734
1734 - 1741

Family and Education

b. 1686, 1st surv. s. of Sir Charles Lyttelton, 3rd Bt., M.P., by Anne, da. of Thomas Temple of Frankton, Warws. m. 8 May 1708, Christian, da. of Sir Richard Temple, 3rd Bt., M.P., 6s. 6da. suc. fa. 1716.

Offices Held

Ld. of Admiralty 1727-41.

Biography

Lyttelton was returned in the Whig interest for his county, which he represented without opposition during the next two Parliaments. His political career was epitomized by his cousin, Sarah Duchess of Marlborough, who wrote in 1733: ‘Sir Thomas Lyttelton has always voted as he is directed; and ’twas for that reason, I imagine, he has an employment he can know nothing about’. His vote for the excise bill cost him his seat for the county in 1734, when he gave up before the poll, but he was brought in for Camelford by his son-in-law, Thomas Pitt.1 He remained in office till 1741 when, having agreed to support his eldest son, George, a prominent member of the Opposition, in standing for the county, he retired with a pension of £1,000 p.a.2

Lyttelton’s wife was the sister of Sir Richard Temple, 4th Bt., M.P., afterwards 1st Viscount Cobham, and of Hester, wife of Richard Grenville. His eldest daughter, Christian, married Thomas Pitt, elder brother of William Pitt. His children, of whom George, Richard, and William Henry became M.P.s, were thus first cousins of Richard, George, James, Henry and Thomas Grenville and connected by marriage with Thomas and William Pitt.

He died 14 Sept. 1751.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Romney R. Sedgwick

Notes

  • 1. M. Wyndham, Chrons. of 18th Cent. i. xx, 35, 39.
  • 2. Ibid. 83 seq.; Walpole, Mems. Geo. II, i. 201 n.3.