Thomas Foley (died 1677)

For other people of the same name, see Thomas Foley.

Thomas Foley
Born	3 December 1617 (1617-12-03)
Died
Nationality	English
Occupation	Ironmaster and politician

Thomas Foley (1617–1677) was an English ironmaster and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1659 and 1677.

Life

Foley was the eldest son of Richard Foley and his second wife Alice Brindley. His father was a prominent Midlands ironmaster of Stourbridge. Foley took over his father's business and made great profits from it in the 1650s and 1660s, which he used to buy estates. He was appointed High Sheriff of Worcestershire for 1656–57.

In 1659 he was elected Member of Parliament for Worcestershire in the Third Protectorate Parliament. He was elected MP for Bewdley in 1660 for the Convention Parliament. In 1673 he was elected MP for Bewdley in a by-election to the Cavalier Parliament.

Foley built Witley Court. In the late 1660s, he founded a bluecoat school at Stourbridge known as Old Swinford Hospital, which he endowed in his will.

Foley married Anne Browne, daughter of John Browne. They had four sons: Thomas Foley, Paul Foley, Philip and Samuel; and two daughters, Martha and Sarah. He handed his business over to his sons.

References

Parliament of England
Preceded by Col. James Berry Edward Pytts Nicholas Lechmere Sir Thomas Rouse, 1st Baronet John Nanfan	Member of Parliament for Worcestershire 1659 With: Nicholas Lechmere	Succeeded by John Wilde
Preceded by Nicholas Lechmere	Member of Parliament for Bewdley 1660–1661	Succeeded by Sir Henry Herbert
Preceded by Sir Henry Herbert	Member of Parliament for Bewdley 1673–1677	Succeeded by Henry Herbert, later 1st Baron Herbert of Chirbury