Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham

Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham of Laughton Bt (circa 1653 – 23 February 1712), was an English politician associated with the Whig party. He served as a Member of Parliament for multiple constituencies during his career. Pelham is notably recognized as the father of two British prime ministers, Henry Pelham and the Duke of Newcastle, who collectively held the office for a total of 18 years.

Pelham was born in Laughton, Sussex, around the year 1653. His father was Sir John Pelham, 3rd Baronet, and his mother was Lucy Sidney, daughter of Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester. For his education, Pelham attended Tonbridge School and later studied at Christ Church, Oxford.

His parliamentary career began in October 1678 when he was elected to represent East Grinstead, a position he held until August 1679. In October of the same year, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Lewes, serving from 1679 until 1702. Following this, he represented Sussex, his home county, until 1705.

Pelham married Elizabeth Jones on 26 November 1679. Elizabeth was the daughter of Sir William Jones, who served as Attorney General from 1650 to 1679, and his wife Elizabeth Alleyn. The couple had two daughters: Hon. Elizabeth Pelham, who died on 11 May 1711 and was married to Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend; and Hon. Lucy Pelham, who died unmarried. Elizabeth Jones, Pelham’s wife, died in October 1681.

In May 1686, Pelham married Lady Grace Holles, daughter of Gilbert Holles, 3rd Earl of Clare, and Grace Pierrepoint. Their union produced two sons and five daughters. Their children included Hon. Grace Pelham, who married George Naylor, and Hon. Henry Pelham, who later became Prime Minister. Other children were Hon. Frances Pelham, Hon. Gertrude Pelham, Hon. Lucy Pelham, and Hon. Margaret Pelham. Several of these children married into prominent families, including the Wandesford, Polhill, Clinton, and Shelley families.

Pelham's political career included multiple appointments as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, serving three separate terms: March 1690 to March 1692, May 1697 to June 1699, and March 1701 to May 1702. In 1706, he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Pelham of Laughton after succeeding to his father's baronetcy in 1703.

Thomas Pelham died on 23 February 1712. His legacy continued through his children, particularly his sons who both served as Prime Minister of Great Britain.