Thomas Orde-Powlett, 1st Baron Bolton

Who was Thomas Orde-Powlett, 1st Baron Bolton?

Thomas Orde-Powlett, 1st Baron Bolton PC was born Thomas Orde, son of John Orde of Morpeth, Northumberland. He was educated at Eton and at King's College, Cambridge, graduating Master of Arts in 1773.

On 7 April 1778 he married Jean Mary Browne-Powlett, the illegitimate daughter of Charles Powlett, 5th Duke of Bolton, who had entailed the greater part of his extensive estates to her in default of male issue of his younger brother Harry Powlett, 6th Duke of Bolton. The sixth Duke died without male heirs in 1794 when the Dukedom became extinct and the Bolton estates passed to Thomas Orde in right of his wife. The properties include Bolton Hall and Bolton Castle in North Yorkshire and Hackwood Park, Old Basing, Hampshire.

He entered politics as Tory Member of Parliament for Aylesbury and later for Harwich. He served as Secretary to the Treasury and as Chief Secretary for Ireland. Around 1782, he was appointed to the Privy Council of Ireland, and in 1785, to HM Privy Council. He was Governor of the Isle of Wight and Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

On 7 January 1795, by Royal Licence, he assumed the additional surname of Powlett, and on 20 October 1797 he was created Baron Bolton.