Thomas Clarges
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Clarges was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
variously between 1656 and 1695. He played an important part in bringing about the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
Clarges was the son of John Clarges and his wife Anne Leaver. He was an apothecary in London.William Betham
, The Baronetage of England: or The History of the English baronets ..., Volume 2. In 1656, Clarges became Member of Parliament
for the Sheriffdoms of Ross, Sutherland, and Cromarty in the Second Protectorate Parliament
. In 1659 he was MP for the Boroughs of Banff and Cullen, and Aberdeen and for the Boroughs of Peebles, Selkirk, Jedburgh, Lauder, North Berwick, Dunbar and Haddington in the Third Protectorate Parliament
. His sister Anne was, wife of General George Monck
. When Richard Cromwell
became Lord Protector he sent for Clarges to prevail with him to go immediately to Scotland with his letters to Monck, to obtain Monck's view of his protectorate. advancement. Clarges became Monck's main agent as he set about planning the Restoration.
In April 1660, Clarges was elected Member of Parliament
for Westminster
in the Convention Parliament. On 5 May Monck sent Clarges as an envoy to Charles II at Breda carrying a letter from the general, in an answer to a letter from Charles, and the address of the officers of the army pledging support. Monck also wrote another short letter in his own hand telling Charles that "he chose to send Mr. Clarges to him, because he was the only person to be trusted in the nearest concernments and consultations, for his restoration, as one, to whom he desired his majesty to give credit to what he should say on that behalf." Clarges was well received and was knighted at Breda in May 1660.
In 1666 Clarges was elected MP Southwark
in the Cavalier Parliament
and sat until 1679. He was elected MP for Christchurch
in 1679 and sat until 1685. He was elected MP for Oxford University
in 1689 and sat until his death in 1695.
Clarges died at his house in Piccadilly, in London.
Clarges married Mary Proctor, daughter of George Proctor, of Norwell Woodhouse, in Nottinghamshire. They had a son Walter
who became baronet
.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
variously between 1656 and 1695. He played an important part in bringing about the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
Clarges was the son of John Clarges and his wife Anne Leaver. He was an apothecary in London.William Betham
William Betham (antiquary)
William Betham was an English clergyman and antiquary, known for his work on the baronetage.-Life:He was born at Little Strickland, near Morland, Westmoreland, on 17 May 1749. He was educated at the public school of Bampton, was ordained in 1773, apparently without graduating at a university, and...
, The Baronetage of England: or The History of the English baronets ..., Volume 2. In 1656, Clarges became Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Sheriffdoms of Ross, Sutherland, and Cromarty in the Second Protectorate Parliament
Second Protectorate Parliament
The Second Protectorate Parliament in England sat for two sessions from 17 September 1656 until 4 February 1658, with Thomas Widdrington as the Speaker of the House of Commons...
. In 1659 he was MP for the Boroughs of Banff and Cullen, and Aberdeen and for the Boroughs of Peebles, Selkirk, Jedburgh, Lauder, North Berwick, Dunbar and Haddington in the Third Protectorate Parliament
Third Protectorate Parliament
The Third Protectorate Parliament sat for one session, from 27 January 1659 until 22 April 1659, with Chaloner Chute and Thomas Bampfylde as the Speakers of the House of Commons...
. His sister Anne was, wife of General George Monck
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle
George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, KG was an English soldier and politician and a key figure in the restoration of Charles II.-Early life and career:...
. When Richard Cromwell
Richard Cromwell
At the same time, the officers of the New Model Army became increasingly wary about the government's commitment to the military cause. The fact that Richard Cromwell lacked military credentials grated with men who had fought on the battlefields of the English Civil War to secure their nation's...
became Lord Protector he sent for Clarges to prevail with him to go immediately to Scotland with his letters to Monck, to obtain Monck's view of his protectorate. advancement. Clarges became Monck's main agent as he set about planning the Restoration.
In April 1660, Clarges was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Westminster
Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)
Westminster was a parliamentary constituency in the Parliament of England to 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain 1707-1800 and the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801. It returned two members to 1885 and one thereafter....
in the Convention Parliament. On 5 May Monck sent Clarges as an envoy to Charles II at Breda carrying a letter from the general, in an answer to a letter from Charles, and the address of the officers of the army pledging support. Monck also wrote another short letter in his own hand telling Charles that "he chose to send Mr. Clarges to him, because he was the only person to be trusted in the nearest concernments and consultations, for his restoration, as one, to whom he desired his majesty to give credit to what he should say on that behalf." Clarges was well received and was knighted at Breda in May 1660.
In 1666 Clarges was elected MP Southwark
Southwark (UK Parliament constituency)
Southwark was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Southwark district of South London. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the English Parliament from 1295 to 1707, to the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and to the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in the Cavalier Parliament
Cavalier Parliament
The Cavalier Parliament of England lasted from 8 May 1661 until 24 January 1679. It was the longest English Parliament, enduring for nearly 18 years of the quarter century reign of Charles II of England...
and sat until 1679. He was elected MP for Christchurch
Christchurch (UK Parliament constituency)
Christchurch is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Centred on the town of Christchurch in Dorset, it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in 1679 and sat until 1685. He was elected MP for Oxford University
Oxford University (UK Parliament constituency)
Oxford University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950.-Boundaries, Electorate and Electoral System:...
in 1689 and sat until his death in 1695.
Clarges died at his house in Piccadilly, in London.
Clarges married Mary Proctor, daughter of George Proctor, of Norwell Woodhouse, in Nottinghamshire. They had a son Walter
Sir Walter Clarges, 1st Baronet
Sir Walter Clarges, 1st Baronet was an English Tory politician who served four separate terms in Parliament. An early ally of William of Orange, he inherited large holdings of land but no great ability from his father, Sir Thomas Clarges, and largely used his Parliamentary seat to advance his own...
who became baronet
Clarges Baronets
The Clarges Baronetcy, of St Martin's in the Fields in the County of Middlesex, was a title in the Baronetage of England. It was created on 30 October 1674 for Walter Clarges, subsequently Member of Parliament for Colchester and Westminster. He was the son of Sir Thomas Clarges. Sir Walter was...
.