Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont, was an Irish Whig politician.
Background
Fortescue was the son of Chichester Fortescue, of Dromisken, County Louth, by Martha Angel, daughter of Samuel Meade Hobson, a barrister, of Muchridge House, County Cork. He was a descendant of Chichester Fortescue, of Dromisken, whose brother William Fortescue was the grandfather of William Fortescue, 1st Earl of Clermont.
Education
He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford.
Career
In 1833 he succeeded to the Ravensdale Park estate upon the death of Sir Henry James Goodricke, 7th Baronet, son of Sir Henry Goodricke, 6th Baronet, by Charlotte, sister of the first Earl of Clermont. Fortescue was High Sheriff of Louth in 1839. In 1840 he was returned to parliament as one of two representatives for County Louth, a seat he held until the following year.
In 1852 he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Clermont, of Dromisken in the County of Louth, a revival of the Clermont title held by his kinsman.
In 1866 he was also created Baron Clermont, of Clermont Park in the County of Louth, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, which entitled him to an automatic seat in the House of Lords. This peerage was created with normal remainder to his heirs male.
Membership
13th United Kingdom Parliament.