Background
Born in London, Truro was the second son of Thomas Wilde, an attorney and founder of Wilde Sapte, by his wife Mary Anne (née Knight).
politician Lord Chancellor Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
Born in London, Truro was the second son of Thomas Wilde, an attorney and founder of Wilde Sapte, by his wife Mary Anne (née Knight).
He was educated at St Paul's School and was admitted an attorney in 1805.
He was Lord Chancellor of Great Britain between 1850 and 1852. He was the younger brother of Sir John Wylde. Truro subsequently entered the Inner Temple and was called to the bar in 1817, having practised for two years before as a special pleader.
Retained for the defence of Queen Caroline in 1820 he distinguished himself by his cross-examination and laid the foundation of an extensive common law practice. He first entered parliament in the Whig interest as member for Newark (1831–1832 and 1835–1841), afterwards representing Worcester (1841–1846). He was appointed Solicitor General in 1839, being knighted in 1840, and became Attorney General in succession to Sir John Campbell in 1841.
In 1846 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, an office he held until 1850, when he became Lord Chancellor, and was created Baron Truro, of Bowes in the County of Middlesex. He held this latter office until the fall of the Russell ministry in 1852. Lord Truro married firstly Mary, widow of William Devaynes 1730–1809 and daughter of William Wileman, in 1813.
They had three surviving children. There were no children from this marriage. Lord Truro died in London in November 1858, aged 76, and was succeeded in the barony by his second but eldest surviving son, Charles.
Lady Truro died in May 1866, aged 64. Thomas Wilde is commemorated by a Blue plaque erected on the front of 2 Kelvin Avenue Bowes Park London N13 which reads: "Site of Bowes Manor THOMAS WILDE 1st BARON TRURO 1782 – 1855 LORD CHANCELLOR 1850 – 1852 LIVED HERE".
10th United Kingdom Parliament. 12th United Kingdom Parliament. 13th United Kingdom Parliament.
14th United Kingdom Parliament.