Sir Thomas Pelham, 2nd Baronet

Sir Thomas Pelham, 2nd Baronet (September 1597 – 1654), was an English politician active in the early to mid-17th century. He was born in September 1597 and was baptised at East Hoathly on the 22nd of that month. Pelham was the son of Sir Thomas Pelham, 1st Baronet of Halland in Laughton, and his wife Mary Walsingham.

Pelham’s political career included representing various constituencies in the House of Commons of England. In 1621, he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for East Grinstead, serving until 1622. He was elected MP for Sussex in 1624, during the final parliament of King James I, and was re-elected in 1625 for the first parliament of King Charles I. He succeeded to the baronetcy following the death of his father on December 2, 1624, becoming the 2nd Baronet of Laughton, Sussex.

In April 1640, Pelham was elected MP for Sussex in the Short Parliament. Later that year, in November 1640, he was re-elected to serve in the Long Parliament. He remained a member until 1648, when he was excluded under Pride’s Purge, a Parliamentarian measure during the English Civil War. In 1654, Pelham was re-elected as MP for Sussex in the First Protectorate Parliament, with his son among the other members elected.

Pelham supported the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War. He died in 1654 at the age of 57 and was buried at Laughton on August 28, 1654.

Pelham was married three times. His first marriage was to Mary Wilbraham, daughter of Sir Roger Wilbraham, Solicitor General for Ireland, and Mary Baber. With Mary Wilbraham, Pelham had two sons and four daughters. Their children included Sir John Pelham, 3rd Baronet (1623–1703), Thomas Pelham (who died young in 1638), Judith Pelham (died 1700, married Sir John Monson), Anne Pelham (died circa 1644), Jane Pelham (died 1635), and Elizabeth Pelham (who married Henry Pelham of Lincolnshire).

His second wife was Judith Shurley, widow of John Shurley of Lewes and daughter of Sir Robert Honeywood and Alice Barnham. Pelham had no surviving children with Judith Shurley.

On June 3, 1640, he married thirdly Margaret Vane at Lambeth, London. Margaret was the daughter of Sir Henry Vane the Elder. From this marriage, Pelham had one son and one daughter who survived him: Sir Nicholas Pelham (around 1650–1739) and Philadelphia Pelham, who married Francis Howard, 5th Baron Howard of Effingham.

His son John Pelham succeeded him as the 3rd Baronet.