HUSSEY, Thomas (1749-1824), of Rathkenny, co. Meath and Fulmer, Bucks.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

14 Feb. 1809 - Nov. 1814

Family and Education

b. 1749, 3rd s. of Stafford Hussey of Rathkenny by Anne, da. of Simon Kirwan of Castlehacket, co. Galway. m. 4 Aug. 1777, Hon. Mary Walpole, da. of Horatio Walpole, 2nd Baron Walpole of Wolterton, 1s. 2da. suc. bro. John 1803.

Offices Held

Ensign 31 Ft. 1773, 1 Ft. Gds. 1775, ret. 1778.

Biography

Much of Hussey’s life remains obscure, but his marriage by elopement1 to the cousin of Lord George Augustus Henry Cavendish* eventually led to his late entry into politics as the most convenient stopgap for the vacancy at Aylesbury caused by the death of Cavendish’s son in January 1809. Elected to Brooks’s three months later, he naturally sided with the Whig opposition, but was one of their most inconspicuous adherents. He voted with them on the Scheldt question, 26 Jan., 5 and 30 Mar., the committal of Burdett, 5 Apr., the adjournment, 29 Nov. 1810, the Regency proposals, 1 and 21 Jan. 1811, Ireland, 4 Feb., the state of the nation, 27 Feb., the orders in council, 3 Mar., McMahon’s job, 14 Apr., and the call for a stronger administration, 21 May 1812. He supported Catholic relief, 24 Apr. 1812, 2 Mar., 13 and 24 May 1813. Hussey was probably a little more assiduous in his attendance than this meagre voting record would suggest, for opposition votes on the following issues, attributed to William Hussey* in the division lists, may have been cast by him: Cintra, 21 Feb., corruption charges against ministers, 25 Apr. and 11 May, the Dutch commissioners, 1 May 1809, the address, 23 Jan., and the Scheldt fiasco, 23 Feb. 1810. Likewise, it was probably he and not William who voted for Williams Wynn’s election bribery bill, 25 Mar., and for consideration of Catholic petitions, 31 May 1811. He is not known to have spoken in the House and retired when Cavendish’s youngest son came of age in 1814. He died 1 Apr. 1824.2

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: David R. Fisher

Notes

  • 1. Georgiana ed. Ld. Bessborough, 32.
  • 2. Gent. Mag. (1824), i. 574.