Thomas Watson, 3rd Earl of Rockingham
Thomas Watson, 3rd Earl of Rockingham (30 December 1715 – 26 February 1746), styled Hon. Thomas Watson until 1745, was an English nobleman and politician. He represented Canterbury in the House of Commons and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Kent after succeeding to the earldom, but died shortly thereafter.
The second son of Edward Watson, Viscount Sondes, Watson entered Eton College in 1725 and Lincoln's Inn in 1732. In the 1741 British general election, he stood for Canterbury as an opposition Whig. Watson and the Tory Thomas Best ousted the incumbent Sir Thomas Hales, a Whig supporter of Walpole's administration. He continued in opposition to successive governments during his tenure in the House of Commons, which terminated in 1745 when he became Earl of Rockingham on the death of his elder brother Lewis. Despite his politics, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Kent in succession to his brother, but did not long survive the appointment, dying on 26 February 1746.[1]
He was succeeded as Earl of Rockingham, Viscount Sondes, Baron Throwley and Baron Rockingham by Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 1st Earl of Malton, his first cousin once removed. Rockingham left his estate to his first cousin Lewis Monson, who thereafter adopted the surname of Watson.[1]
References
- Newman, A. N. (1970). "WATSON, Hon. Thomas (1715-46).". In Sedgwick, Romney (ed.). The House of Commons 1715-1754. The History of Parliament Trust.
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Thomas May Sir Thomas Hales, Bt |
Member of Parliament for Canterbury 1741–1745 With: Thomas Best |
Succeeded by Sir Thomas Hales, Bt Thomas Best |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by The Earl of Rockingham |
Lord Lieutenant of Kent 1746 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Dorset |
| Peerage of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Lewis Watson |
Earl of Rockingham 1745–1746 |
Extinct |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by Lewis Watson |
Baron Rockingham 1745–1746 |
Succeeded by Thomas Watson-Wentworth |