Thomas Frankland Lewis | |
|---|---|
 Sir Thomas Frankland Lewis, 1854 painting | |
| Born | (1780-05-14)14 May 1780 Britain |
| Died | 22 January 1855(1855-01-22) (aged 74) |
| Occupation | Politician |
Sir Thomas Frankland Lewis, 1st Baronet (14 May 1780 – 22 January 1855) was aBritishPoor Law Commissioner and moderate Tory (laterPeelite) MP.
Lewis was the son ofJohn Lewis and Anne Frankland, daughter ofSir Thomas Frankland, 5th Baronet. Born inGreat Ormond Street, London, he was educated atEton College, and attendedChrist Church, Oxford without taking a degree. His father died in 1797.[1]
Lewis was an improving landlord of the family estates inRadnorshire, and was appointedHigh Sheriff of Radnorshire for 1804–05. He was ambitious to enter national politics as aMember of Parliament, which he did in 1812 as a follower ofLord Bulkeley, atBeaumaris.[1][2]
Lewis was an MP for most years between 1812 and 1855, forEnnis (1826–1828), forRadnorshire (1828–1834) and forRadnor Boroughs (1847–1855). Initially he was known as aGrenvillite; while he supported the landowner and agricultural interest, his sympathy withCatholic emancipation made him unacceptable to the Tory ministry. From 1821 onwards he took the advice ofLord Grenville to establish himself by means of public commission work.[2]
He was elected aFellow of the Royal Society in 1820.[3]
On 24 June 1824, Lewis was appointed to theRoyal Commissionfor inquiring into the nature and extent of the Instruction afforded by the several Institutions in Ireland established for the purpose of Education where he served with the other Commissioners:John Leslie Foster,William Grant,James Glassford andAnthony Richard Blake.[4]
As chairman (1834–1839) of thePoor Law Commission, he immediately clashed withEdwin Chadwick, who had been the driving force for Poor Law reform.[5] Chadwick was Secretary, not (as he had hoped) on the Board itself; and Lewis withGeorge Nicholls andJohn Shaw-Lefevre proceeded to overrule his views.[6]
Lewis chaired the commission on theRebecca Riots, and the subsequent commission that abolished theturnpike trusts.[7] He was created a baronet in 1846.
He married Harriet Cornewall, a daughter ofSir George Cornewall, 2nd Baronet and Catherine Cornewall. Their family home wasHarpton Court,Old Radnor.[8] They had two children:
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBeaumaris 1812–1826 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forEnnis 1826–1828 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forRadnorshire 1828–1835 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forRadnor 1847–1855 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Secretary to the Treasury (junior) 1827–1828 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Vice-President of the Board of Trade 1828 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Treasurer of the Navy 1830 | Succeeded by |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New title | Baronet (ofHarpton Court, Radnor) 1846–1855 | Succeeded by |
