Thomas Mesurier

Background

He was born on Alderney, in the Channel Islands, the fourth son of John Le Mesurier, Hereditary Governor of that island.

Education

New College.

Career

Educated at New College, Oxford (Bachelor 1778, Master of Arts 1782 and Bachelor's Degree 1813), he initially entered the legal profession and was called to the Bar in 1781. In 1799 he took up his first major position as Rector of Newnton Longueville, Buckinghamshire. During this time, in 1807, he was chosen to be Bampton Lecturer and preached upon the Nature and Guilt of Schism.

He left in 1812 to become Rector of Haughton-le-Skerne, county Durham – a position he held until his death.

Le Mesurier was always close to the government of the day, and after Lord Sidmouth"s short period as Prime Minister became his private chaplain, advising him on how he should combine the art of politics with adherence to the principles of the Established Church. Le Mesurier escaped without sentence.

Le Mesurier married, in 1800, Margaret, daughter of Doctor James Bandinel of Netherbury, Dorset (a previous Bampton Lecturer), and had fifteen children by her. Fourteen survived him.

The resultant drain on his income caused him to write to Lord Sidmouth in January 1822 asking for the prebendal stall at Westminster vacated by Doctor Blomberg.

Sidmouth could do nothing. His portrait was painted by Sir William Beechey, Resident Advisor

Politics

His political and religious views were strongly held, and in August 1820 it is reported in The Times that Le Mesurier "had thought proper to stop the mouth of boy with his fist" when the fourteen-year-old in Haughton-le-Skerne shouted out his support for Lambton, a local government candidate.

Connections

opponent:

John Milner