Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell

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Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell PC (Ire) (1665 – 4 August 1720),{{cite web | url = http://www.leighrayment.com/peers/peersS4.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080608023745/http://www.leighrayment.com/peers/peersS4.htm | archive-date = 8 June 2008 | title = Leigh Rayment – Peerage | url-status = usurped | accessdate = 10 June 2009 }} known as Sir Thomas Southwell, 2nd Baronet from 1681 to 1717, was an Irish peer and politician.

Background

He was the oldest son of Richard Southwell, son of Sir Thomas Southwell, 1st Baronet, and his wife Lady Elizabeth O'Brien, daughter of Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin.{{cite book | last = Burke | first = John | editor = Bernhard Burke | title = Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland | publisher = Harrison | location = London | volume = II | year = 1863 | pages = 1738 }} His younger brothers were William Southwell and Richard Southwell.{{cite web | url = http://thepeerage.com/p25436.htm#i254353 | title = ThePeerage – Thomas Southwell, 1st Baron Southwell of Castle Mattress | accessdate = 10 June 2009 }} In 1681, his father having predeceased him, Southwell succeeded his grandfather as baronet.{{cite book | last = Burke | first = John | title = A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire | publisher = Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley | location = London | volume = II | edition = 4th | year = 1832 | pages = 465 }} During the Glorious Revolution of 1689, after he led an unsuccessful rising in County Galway, he and his brother were attainted by the parliament of King James II of England. Southwell was also imprisoned, but was released and pardoned the following year.{{cite book | last = Lodge | first = John | editor = Mervyn Archdall | title = The Peerage of Ireland or A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom | volume = VI | location = Dublin | publisher = James Moore | year = 1789 | pages = 17–25 }}

Career

In 1695, Southwell entered the Irish House of Commons for County Limerick, representing it until 1713.{{cite web | url = http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/irelandcommons.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080607022535/http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/irelandcommons.htm | archive-date = 7 June 2008 | title = Leigh Rayment – Irish House of Commons 1692–1800 | url-status = usurped | accessdate = 10 June 2009 }} He was returned for the constituency again from 1715 until August 1717, when he was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Southwell, of Castle Mattress, in the County of Limerick.{{ London Gazette | issue = 5565 |page=1 | date = 17 August 1717 }} In 1697, Southwell became a Commissioner of the Revenue, however resigned in 1712. He was reappointed two years later and held this post until his death in 1720. In May 1710, Southwell was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland.{{cite web | url = http://www.leighrayment.com/pcouncil/pcouncilI.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080607022603/http://leighrayment.com/pcouncil/pcouncilI.htm | archive-date = 7 June 2008 | url-status = usurped | title = Leigh Rayment – Privy Council of Ireland }}

Family

In April 1696, he married Lady Meliora Coningsby, eldest daughter of Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl Coningsby and his first wife Barbara Gorges. They had six sons and five daughters. Southwell died at Dublin and was buried at Rathkeale.{{DNB Cite|wstitle=Southwell, Thomas (1667-1720)}} Pages 303–304. He was succeeded in his titles by his oldest son Thomas.{{cite book | last = Lodge | first = Edmund | title = The Genealogy of the Existing British Peerage | url = https://archive.org/details/genealogyofexist01lodg | publisher = Saunder and Otley | edition = 6th | location = London | year = 1838 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/genealogyofexist01lodg/page/462 462] }} His second son Henry also sat in the Parliament of Ireland.