Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley (1742–1793)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley (24 June 1742 – 2 July 1793) was a British
peer and politician. He was the eldest son of the first baron
, another Thomas Foley. He represented Herefordshire
from 1767 to 1774 and Droitwich
from 1774 until he succeeded to his father's peerage in 1777.
estate to his father. The father had inherited, in 1766, the Great Witley estate from his cousin, the 2nd Lord Foley of the first creation
. This enabled the father (in his will) to divide his estates between his three sons. Thomas' share was the extensive Great Witley
estate, but excluding the manor of Malvern
and estates that his cousin had bought from Lord Montfort
(which were included in Edward's share). However, this Thomas did not immediately become entitled to the estates, but only to an annuity. The balance of the income was applied to paying his debts. After his death in 1793, there were still unpaid debts, which the creditors exchanged for annuities terminating in 1808. By that time, his son, also named Thomas
, had come of age. In the meantime it had been necessary to obtain two private Acts of Parliament (in 1778 and 1796) to enable the trustees to make sales of parts of the estates, grant leases, and otherwise deal with the settled estate.
Thomas Foley was known to his contemporaries as "Lord Balloon", because of his girth. He was a friend of architect John Nash
. After Foley's death, his son would commission Nash to add porticoes to the north and south sides of Witley Court
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
peer and politician. He was the eldest son of the first baron
Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley (1716–1777)
Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley was a British politician.Foley was the son of Thomas Foley and his wife Hester , and the cousin, namesake and heir of Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley , thus acquiring Witley Court and the extensive Great Witley estate...
, another Thomas Foley. He represented Herefordshire
Herefordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
The county constituency of Herefordshire, in the West Midlands of England bordering on Wales, was abolished when the county was divided for parliamentary purposes in 1885...
from 1767 to 1774 and Droitwich
Droitwich (UK Parliament constituency)
Droitwich was the name of a constituency of the House of Commons of England in 1295, and again from 1554, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
from 1774 until he succeeded to his father's peerage in 1777.
Biography
The family estate at Stoke Edith was entailed to him under his parents' marriage settlement, but both he and his next brother, Edward, were profligate spenders. When his father paid Foley's debts in 1773 (mortgaging his estates), this Thomas conveyed his interest in the Stoke EdithStoke Edith
Stoke Edith is a village in the English county of Herefordshire, situated on a road leading from Hereford to Ledbury. The manor belonged formerly to the Wallwynes, Milwaters and Lingen families....
estate to his father. The father had inherited, in 1766, the Great Witley estate from his cousin, the 2nd Lord Foley of the first creation
Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley (1703–1766)
Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley was the eldest son of Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley and inherited the vast Great Witley estate on his father's death in 1733, including ironworks at Wilden and Shelsley Walsh....
. This enabled the father (in his will) to divide his estates between his three sons. Thomas' share was the extensive Great Witley
Great Witley
Great Witley is a village and civil parish in the Malvern Hills District in the northwest of the county of Worcestershire, England...
estate, but excluding the manor of Malvern
Great Malvern
Great Malvern is an area of Malvern, Worcestershire, England. It is the historical centre of the town, and the location of the headquarters buildings of the of Malvern Town Council, the governing body of the Malvern civil parish, and Malvern Hills District council of the county of...
and estates that his cousin had bought from Lord Montfort
Henry Bromley, 1st Baron Montfort
Henry Bromley, 1st Baron Montfort , was a British landowner and politician.Bromley was the only son of John Bromley and the grandson of John Bromley, both Knights of the Shire for Cambridgeshire. His mother Marcy died in childbed. He was educated at Clare College, Cambridge...
(which were included in Edward's share). However, this Thomas did not immediately become entitled to the estates, but only to an annuity. The balance of the income was applied to paying his debts. After his death in 1793, there were still unpaid debts, which the creditors exchanged for annuities terminating in 1808. By that time, his son, also named Thomas
Thomas Foley, 3rd Baron Foley
Thomas Foley, 3rd Baron Foley PC , was a British peer and Whig politician. He served as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen Pensioners under Lord Grey between 1830 and 1833.-Background:...
, had come of age. In the meantime it had been necessary to obtain two private Acts of Parliament (in 1778 and 1796) to enable the trustees to make sales of parts of the estates, grant leases, and otherwise deal with the settled estate.
Thomas Foley was known to his contemporaries as "Lord Balloon", because of his girth. He was a friend of architect John Nash
John Nash (architect)
John Nash was a British architect responsible for much of the layout of Regency London.-Biography:Born in Lambeth, London, the son of a Welsh millwright, Nash trained with the architect Sir Robert Taylor. He established his own practice in 1777, but his career was initially unsuccessful and...
. After Foley's death, his son would commission Nash to add porticoes to the north and south sides of Witley Court
Witley Court
Witley Court in Worcestershire, England is a Grade 1 listed building and was once one of the great houses of the Midlands, but today it is a spectacular ruin after being devastated by fire in 1937. It was built by Thomas Foley in 1655 on the site of a former manor house near Great Witley...
.