Thomas Knox, 1st Earl of Ranfurly
Thomas Knox, 1st Earl of Ranfurly (5 August 1754 – 26 April 1840), styled The Honourable Thomas Knox between 1781 and 1818 and known as The Viscount Northland between 1818 and 1831, was an Irish peer and politician.
Background
Ranfurly was the eldest son of Thomas Knox, 1st Viscount Northland, and the Hon. Anne, daughter of John Vesey, 1st Baron Knapton.[1]
Political career
Ranfurly was elected a member of the Irish House of Commons for Carlingford in 1776, a seat he held until 1783, and then represented Dungannon between 1783 and 1790 and Tyrone between 1790 and 1798.[2] He was also a member of the British House of Commons for County Tyrone from 1806 to 1812.[3] In 1818 he succeeded his father in the viscountcy of Northland, but, as this was an Irish peerage it did not entitle him to a seat in the House of Lords. However, in 1826 he was created Baron Ranfurly, of Ramphorlie in the County of Renfrew, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which entitled him and his successors to a seat in the upper chamber of parliament.[4] In 1831 he was further honoured when he was made Earl of Ranfurly in the Peerage of Ireland.[5]
Family
Lord Ranfurly married the Honourable Diana Jane, daughter of Edmund Pery, 1st Viscount Pery, in 1785. Their second son the Honourable Edmund Knox (1787-1867) was an Admiral in the Royal Navy. Lady Ranfurly died in November 1839. Lord Ranfurly only survived her by a few months and died in April 1840, aged 85. He was succeeded in his titles by his eldest son, Thomas.[1] His fourth son was Bishop William Knox.[6]
References
- 1 2 Lundy, Darryl. "p. 3673 § 36727". thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ↑ "Irish House of Commons 1692-1800". leighrayment.com. 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ↑ "The House of Commons: Constituencies beginning with "T"". leighrayment.com. 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 18259. p. 1478. 17 June 1826.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 18846. p. 1834. 9 September 1831.
- ↑
"Knox, William (1762-1831)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Earl of Ranfurly
| Parliament of Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Blayney Townley-Balfour Robert Ross |
Member of Parliament for Carlingford 1776 – 1783 With: Theophilus Blakeney |
Succeeded by Sir John Blaquiere Thomas Coghlan |
| Preceded by Charles O'Hara William Eden |
Member of Parliament for Dungannon 1783 – 1790 With: Edmund Sexton Pery 1783 Lorenzo Moore 1783–1790 |
Succeeded by Hon. John Knox Hon. George Knox |
| Preceded by James Stewart Nathaniel Montgomery |
Member of Parliament for Tyrone 1790 – 1797 With: James Stewart |
Succeeded by James Stewart Viscount Corry |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by James Stewart Sir John Stewart, Bt |
Member of Parliament for Tyrone 1806 – 1812 With: James Stewart |
Succeeded by Sir John Stewart, Bt Hon. Thomas Knox |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| New creation | Earl of Ranfurly 1831 – 1840 |
Succeeded by Thomas Knox |
| Preceded by Thomas Knox |
Viscount Northland 1818 – 1840 | |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Baron Ranfurly 1826 – 1840 |
Succeeded by Thomas Knox |