Thomas H. Sotheron-Estcourt

The Right Honourable Thomas H. Sotheron-Estcourt DL JP
Home Secretary
In office 3 March 1859 – 18 June 1859
Monarch	Victoria
Prime Minister	The Earl of Derby
Preceded by	Spencer Horatio Walpole
Succeeded by	Sir George Cornewall Lewis, Bt
Personal details
Born	4 April 1801 (1801-04-04)
Died	6 January 1876 (1876-01-07)
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Lucy Sarah Sotheron (d. 1870)
Alma mater	Oriel College, Oxford

Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron-Estcourt PC DL JP (4 April 1801 – 6 January 1876), known as Thomas Bucknall-Estcourt until 1839 and as Thomas Sotheron from 1839 to 1855, was a British Conservative politician.

Background and education

Sotheron-Estcourt was the eldest son of Thomas Bucknall-Estcourt, Member of Parliament (MP) for Devizes and Oxford University, son of Thomas Estcourt, Member of Parliament for Cricklade. His mother was Eleanor, daughter of James Sutton. He was educated at Harrow and Oriel College, Oxford.

Political career

Estcourt was elected to Parliament as MP for Marlborough in 1829. He was elected to parliament again in 1835 as MP for Devizes, switched to North Wiltshire in 1844, and continued in the Commons until 1865. Sotheron resumed the name Estcourt in 1855, and entered Lord Derby's second government in 1858 as President of the Poor Law Board. The next year, he became Home Secretary, but the government soon fell. He had been sworn of the Privy Council in 1858.

Family

Sotheron-Estcourt married Lucy Sarah, daughter of Admiral Frank Sotheron, in 1830. In 1839 he assumed by Royal license the surname of Sotheron in lieu of his patronymic in order to inherit his father-in-law's property. However, in 1853 he resumed by Royal license the surname of Estcourt in addition to that of Sotheron. He retired from public life in 1863 after a paralytic seizure. He died in January 1876, aged 74. His wife had died in 1870. Sotheron-Estcourt's estates passed to his nephew George Bucknall-Estcourt, who assumed the surname of Sotheron-Estcourt and was created Baron Estcourt in 1903.

References

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Thomas H. Sotheron-Estcourt

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Lord Brudenell Earl Bruce	Member of Parliament for Marlborough 1829–1832 With: Lord Brudenell 1829 William John Bankes 1829–1832	Succeeded by Lord Ernest Bruce Henry Bingham Baring
Preceded by Wadham Locke Sir Philip Charles Durham	Member of Parliament for Devizes 1835–1844 With: Sir Philip Charles Durham 1835–1836 James Whitley Deans Dundas 1836–1838 George Heneage Walker Heneage 1838–1884	Succeeded by George Heneage Walker Heneage William Heald Ludlow Bruges
Preceded by Walter Long Sir Francis Burdett, Bt	Member of Parliament for Wiltshire North 1844–1865 With: Walter Long	Succeeded by Walter Long Lord Charles Bruce
Political offices
Preceded by Edward Pleydell Bouverie	President of the Poor Law Board 1858–1859	Succeeded by Earl of March
Preceded by Spencer Horatio Walpole	Secretary of State for the Home Department 1859	Succeeded by Sir George Cornewall Lewis, 2nd Baronet