MASTER, Thomas (1690-1770), of the Abbey, Cirencester, Glos.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

23 Jan. 1712 - 1747

Family and Education

bap. 12 July 1690, 1st s. of Thomas Master, M.P. Cirencester 1685-7, 1689-90, of the Abbey, Cirencester by Elizabeth, da. and h. of John Driver of Aston, Glos. educ. Ch. Ch. Oxf. 1706. m. Apr. 1709, Joanna, da. and h. of Jasper Chapman of Stratton, Glos., 1s. suc. fa. 1710.

Offices Held

Biography

Thomas Master was descended from one of Queen Elizabeth’s physicians, who obtained a grant of the site of the abbey of Cirencester in 1565, since when each generation of the family had represented the borough. A life-long Tory, he himself was returned there without opposition for thirty-five years, sharing its representation with the Bathursts. Included in 1721 in a list of those likely to support an uprising in favour of the Stuarts,1 he consistently voted against the Government after George I’s accession. In his only recorded speech on 3 May 1736 he opposed the Quaker tithe bill. He retired in 1747 in favour of his son, on whose death in 1749, leaving an infant heir, he put up a cousin, John Coxe. In 1753 he emerged from his retirement to join with Coxe in standing once again for the borough, but ultimately withdrew.2 He died 5 Feb. 1770.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: A. N. Newman

Notes

  • 1. Stuart mss 65/16.
  • 2. Add. 32733, f. 610.