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BROOKE PECHELL, Sir Thomas, 2nd. Bt. (1753-1826), of Aldwick, Suss.
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Biography Detail
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Family and Education
b. 23 Jan. 1753, 1st s. of Lt.-Col. Sir Paul Pechell, 1st Bt., of Paglesham, Essex by Mary, da. and h. of Thomas Brooke of Paglesham. educ. Westminster 1765-71; Christ Church, Oxf. 1771-5; L. Inn 1772. m. 26 Apr. 1783, Charlotte, da. of Lt.-Gen. Sir John Clavering, 3s. 2da. suc. fa. as 2nd Bt. 13 Jan. 1800; in accordance with mother’s will took name Brooke before Pechell by royal lic. 22 Nov. 1801.
Offices Held
Gent. usher to the Queen 1787-1818.
Sub. lt. 2 Horse Gds. 1783, guidon and capt. 1788, brevet maj. 1796, lt.-colt 1802, col. 1811, maj.-gen. 1814.
Biography
Pechell’s grandfather Samuel was a Montaubon Huguenot who had settled in Dublin. His father was a distinguished soldier, and by 1796 impatient for a baronetage promised him for his services, of which the son reminded the prime minister. It was obtained in 1797. Pechell himself had an ornamental army career, with a place in the Queen’s household.
Pechell owed his seat in Parliament to the and Earl of Radnor. He was listed a Treasury supporter. No speech is known in this period. Like his patron, he opposed Catholic relief throughout. He voted in favour of Christian missions to India, 1 July 1813. He supported ministers on civil list questions, 8 and 31 May 1815, 6 and 24 May 1816, but was in the majority against the property tax, 18 Mar. 1816. He was in the majorities on the Irish vice-treasurership, 20 June 1816, and the Admiralty salaries, 17 Feb. 1817, but joined the minority on Ridley’s motion to reduce the lords of Admiralty, 25 Feb. He supported the suspension of habeas corpus, 23 June 1817. He appeared on a ministerial dinner list in 1818, but no vote of his is known from that session.
In 1818 Pechell’s patron resolved on a change of Members for Downton, but he was returned again on a vacancy when Sir William Scott secured his election elsewhere. He supported ministers against Tierney’s censure motion, 18 May 1819, and on 10 June voted for the foreign enlistment bill. His patron being hostile to parliamentary reform, he voted against the extension of the franchise at Penryn, 22 June. He retained his seat until shortly before his death, 17/18 June 1826.
D. C. Agnew, Protestant Exiles, 371; PRO 30/8/165, f. 172; Add. 38366, f. 135.
