SAMWELL, Sir Thomas, 2nd Bt. (1687-1757), of Upton, Northants and Atherstone-on-Stour, Warws.

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

Constituency

Dates

1715 - 1722

Family and Education

bap. 14 Apr. 1687, o.s. of Sir Thomas Samwell, 1st Bt., M.P., of Upton by Anne, da. and h. of Sir John Godschalk of Atherstone-on-Stour. educ. Corpus Christi, Camb. 1704; Grand Tour (Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France). m. (1) 22 Mar. 1710, Millicent (bur. 11 May 1716), da. and h. of Rev. Thomas Fuller of Hatfield, Herts., 2s. 4da.; (2) 26 Jan. 1721, Mary, da. of Sir Gilbert Clarke of Chilcote, Derbys., wid. of William Ives of Bradden, Northants., 1s. 1da. suc. fa. March 1694.

Offices Held

Biography

Samwell, whose family acquired Upton in 1600, was returned for Coventry as a Whig in 1715 with his cousin Adolphus Oughton. He voted with the Administration on the septennial bill in 1716 but went into opposition with Walpole in 1717, voting against the Government in all subsequent divisions. He did not stand again. According to his monumental inscription at Upton:

truly sensible of the falsehood, ingratitude and corruption of mankind, he preferred retirement to the glare and splendour of a court, and looked upon a private station as the true post of honour.

In 1745 he and his two sons accepted commissions in Lord Halifax’s regiment, raised during the rebellion.1 He died 16 Nov. 1757.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

  • 1. Baker, Northants. i. 227.