Sir Thomas Littleton, 3rd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Littleton, 3rd Baronet (3 April 1647 – 31 December 1709), often Thomas de Littleton, was a British
statesman. He was the son of Sir Thomas Littleton, 2nd Baronet
(died 1681) and his wife and cousin Anne Littleton.
He served as Speaker of the House of Commons
from 1698 to 1700, then as Treasurer of the Navy
until his death. He was related to Thomas de Littleton
, a 15th century jurist and legal theorist.
Macaulay thus sums up the character of Speaker Littleton and his relations to the Whigs
: "He was one of their ablest, most zealous and most steadfast friends; and had been, both in the House of Commons and at the board of treasury, an invaluable second to Montague" (the Earl of Halifax).
Upon his death, without issue in 1709, the baronetcy expired, but his estate passed to his first cousin Elizabeth (Littleton) Meynell, daughter of his uncle Edward.
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
statesman. He was the son of Sir Thomas Littleton, 2nd Baronet
Sir Thomas Littleton, 2nd Baronet
Sir Thomas Littleton, 2nd Baronet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1640 and 1681....
(died 1681) and his wife and cousin Anne Littleton.
He served as Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
from 1698 to 1700, then as Treasurer of the Navy
Treasurer of the Navy
The Treasurer of the Navy was an office in the British government between the mid-16th and early 19th century. The office-holder was responsible for the financial maintenance of the Royal Navy. The office was a political appointment, and frequently was held by up-and-coming young politicians who...
until his death. He was related to Thomas de Littleton
Thomas de Littleton
Sir Thomas de Littleton was an English judge and legal writer.-Early life:He was born, it is supposed, at Frankley Manor House, Worcestershire, England in about 1407. Littleton’s surname was that of his mother, who was the sole daughter and heiress of Thomas de Littleton, Lord of Frankley. She...
, a 15th century jurist and legal theorist.
Macaulay thus sums up the character of Speaker Littleton and his relations to the Whigs
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
: "He was one of their ablest, most zealous and most steadfast friends; and had been, both in the House of Commons and at the board of treasury, an invaluable second to Montague" (the Earl of Halifax).
Upon his death, without issue in 1709, the baronetcy expired, but his estate passed to his first cousin Elizabeth (Littleton) Meynell, daughter of his uncle Edward.