PELHAM CLINTON, Thomas, Earl of Lincoln (1752-1795).

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1774 - 1780
17 Dec. 1781 - 22 Feb. 1794

Family and Education

b. 1 July 1752, 3rd but 1st surv. s. of Henry Pelham Clinton, 2nd Duke of Newcastle, by Catherine, da. and coh. of Hon. Henry Pelham. educ. Eton 1763-4; Angers acad.; Grand Tour 1769-72. m. 2 May 1782, Lady Anna Maria Stanhope, da. of William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington, 2s. 2da. (she m. (2) Sir Charles Gregan Craufurd*). Styled Earl of Lincoln 1779-94; suc. fa. as 3rd Duke of Newcastle 22 Feb. 1794.

Offices Held

Ensign, 12 Ft. 1769; capt. 1 Drag. Gds. 1770; capt. and lt.-col. 1 Ft. Gds. 1775; a.d.c. to Sir Henry Clinton* in America 1779-80; a.d.c. to the King 1780-7; brevet col. 1780; col. 75 Ft. 1782-3, 17 Drag. 1785-d.; maj.-gen. 1787.

Ld. lt. Notts and steward of Sherwood Forest 1794-d.

Biography

Lincoln had come in for Retford on the family interest since 1781, but his father’s disapproval of his choice of a wife steadily poisoned relations between them. On 21 May 1790 Newcastle wrote ‘I shall most readily comply with your wish of being out of Parliament, and shall accordingly take proper measures about it’. In the same letter his father warned him that if Lady Lincoln took her sons abroad, as she evidently meant to do, he would withdraw his allowance and ‘stop the interest’ on his remaining debts; and insisted on his giving up residence at Kelham, as he could not afford it.

Lincoln nevertheless resumed his seat at the ensuing election. He made no mark in the House. In April 1791 he was listed among the opponents of repeal of the Test Act in Scotland. In May he requested Pitt, whom he had supported, to make him governor of Jersey— he needed the extra income and preferred a military appointment to any other. Pitt replied that there was no vacancy but suggested an interview. Nothing came of it. Newcastle entailed everything he could on Lincoln’s heir. Lincoln died a year after succeeding to the dukedom, 18 May 1795.

Nottingham Univ. Lib. Newcastle mss NeC 2665; PRO 30/8/152, f. 116; 195, f. 96.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: P. A. Symonds

Notes