Thomas Windsor, 1st Viscount Windsor
Lieutenant-General Thomas Windsor, 1st Viscount Windsor (c. 1670 – 8 June 1738), styled The Honourable Thomas Windsor until 1699, was an English soldier, landowner and politician.
Windsor was the second son of Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth, by Ursula Widdrington, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Thomas Widdrington.
He was made a Page of Honour to James II in 1685 (a post he held until the king was deposed in 1688)[1] and a few months later was returned to Parliament for Droitwich,[1][2] despite being only around sixteen at the time. Lord Willoughby de Eresby wanted both him and Peter Legh expelled as minors. Windsor took no part in the proceedings of Parliament and was not re-elected in 1687.
During the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 Windsor had served as a cornet in Lord Plymouth's Horse under his father. He continued to serve in the Army as a captain in Sir John Fenwick's Regiment in 1687, as a lieutenant-colonel in Viscount Colchester's Regiment between 1690 and 1694, as a colonel of horse between 1694 and 1697, 1702 and 1707 and 1711 and 1712 and of the 3rd Dragoon Guards between 1712 and 1717. He was promoted to brigadier in 1702, to major-general in 1704 and to lieutenant-general in 1710.[1]
In 1692 he was appointed Groom of the Bedchamber in King William's private household, serving until the King's death in 1702. In 1699 he was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland as Viscount Windsor, of Blackcastle.[1][3] This being an Irish peerage he was still eligible for election to the English House of Commons, and in 1705 he was once again returned to Parliament for Bramber, a seat he held until 1708.[1][4] Between 1708 and 1712 he represented Monmouthshire.[1][5] The latter year he was created an English peer as Baron Mountjoy, in the Isle of Wight,[1][3] as one of twelve peers created to secure a Tory majority in the House of Lords.[1]
Lord Windsor married Lady Charlotte Herbert, daughter of Philip Herbert, 7th Earl of Pembroke, and widow of John Jeffreys, 2nd Baron Jeffreys, in 1703. She died in November 1733. Lord Windsor died in June 1738 and was succeeded in his titles by his son, Herbert.[1][3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The History of Parliament: WINDSOR, Hon. Thomas (c.1669-1738), of Tardebigge, Worcs. (originally published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690, ed. B.D. Henning, 1983.
- ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "D" (part 3)
- 1 2 3 thepeerage.com Thomas Windsor, 1st Viscount Windsor of Blackcastle
- ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 5)
- ↑ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 3)
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Mountjoy, Barons and Viscounts". Encyclopædia Britannica. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 941. s.v. "Thomas Windsor"
| Parliament of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hon. Henry Coventry Samuel Sandys |
Member of Parliament for Droitwich 1685–1687 With: Samuel Sandys |
Succeeded by Samuel Sandys The Lord Coote |
| Preceded by John Asgill Samuel Sambrooke |
Member of Parliament for Bramber 1705–1707 With: John Asgill |
Succeeded by Parliament of Great Britain |
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Parliament of England |
Member of Parliament for Bramber 1707–1708 With: William Shippen |
Succeeded by William Hale Sir Cleave More, Bt |
| Preceded by John Morgan Sir Hopton Williams, Bt |
Member of Parliament for Monmouthshire 1708–1712 With: John Morgan |
Succeeded by John Morgan James Gunter |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by Cornelius Wood |
Colonel of Viscount Windsor's Regiment of Horse 1712–1616 |
Succeeded by George Wade |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| New creation | Viscount Windsor 1699–1738 |
Succeeded by Herbert Windsor |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| New creation | Baron Mountjoy 1712–1738 |
Succeeded by Herbert Windsor |