Background
Foley was the son of Thomas Foley and his wife Hester (née Andrews), and the cousin, namesake and heir of Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley (a title which became extinct on his death in 1766), thus acquiring Witley Court and the extensive Great Witley estate.
Career
This included ironworks at Wilden and Shelsley Walsh, which were leased about at the end of his life. The Foley family descended from the prominent ironmaster Thomas Foley. Foley was elected to the House of Commons for Droitwich in 1741, a constituency he represented until 1746 and again from 1754 to 1768, and then sat for Herefordshire between 1768 and 1776.
Lord Foley married the Honorary
Grace (d 1769), daughter of George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne, in 1740. They had seven children:
Thomas Foley, 2nd Baron Foley (1742–1793), to whose family he devised the Great Witley estate
Honorary
Grace Foley (1 January 1743 – 9 January 1813), married James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Clanbrassil, on 21 May 1774
Honorary Edward Foley (1747–1803), to whose family he devised his paternal Stoke Edith estate
Honorary
Andrew Foley (c 1748–1816), to whose family he devised the Newent estate
Honorary
Anne Foley (d 9 December 1794), married Sir Edward Winnington, 2nd Baronet on 12 September 1776
Honorary Elizabeth Foley (bef 1769 – 13 October 1776)
Honorary Mary Foley (d December 1844), married Richard Clerk
Foley died in November 1777, aged 61.
Membership
11th Parliament of Great Britain. 9th Parliament of Great Britain. 12th Parliament of Great Britain.
13th Parliament of Great Britain.
14th Parliament of Great Britain.