Constituency : Somerset North 1837-47 ( Tory ), Devonshire North 1865 - 85, Wellington 1885-6
Sir Thomas returned to the Commons after almost two decades' absence when he replaced the deceased James Buller in April 1865.
Sir Thomas was the son and heir of a baronet and a considerable landowner. He was educated at Harrow and Oxford where he was friends with Gladstone. Like him he started out as a Tory and then supported Peel over the Corn Laws. He stood down at the 1847 election and devoted his time to educational issues. He had a leading role in establishing the Oxford local examinations system in 1858. He was also interested in agriculture and a trustee of the Royal Agricultural Society. He stood for Birmingham in 1859 as a moderate liberal but failed to dislodge John Bright.
Sir Thomas was an Anglican who served as a Church Estates Commissioner between 1869 and 1874. Despite their friendship and his Peelite background, Gladstone never gave him office. In 1871 he earned a Radical reputation for a public speech expressing concern that rents were rising without the landlords doing anything to justify it.
Sir Thomas had to change seats in 1885 when Devonshire North was abolished. He was elected for Wellington in 1885 but lost in 1886 which has been attributed to his vote for Home Rule.
Sir Thomas was an art patron and friend of Ruskin. He had a great affection for the remote Scottish island of St Kilda after visiting it on his honeymoon and named his new schooner after it. He also sponsored some new building on the island.
He died in 1898 aged 89. His sons followed him into politics.
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