Sir Thomas Frankland, 2nd Baronet

Sir Thomas Frankland, 2nd Baronet (September 1665 – 30 October 1726), was an English landowner associated with Thirkleby Hall in Yorkshire. His career included service as a Member of Parliament and as joint Postmaster General.

Frankland was the eldest son of Sir William Frankland, 1st Baronet, and Arabella Belasyse, daughter of Hon. Henry Belasyse, MP of Newburgh Priory, Yorkshire. He attended Cambridge University from 1680 to 1681 and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1683. In 1683, he married Elizabeth Russell, daughter of Sir John Russell and Frances Cromwell, by license dated 14 February 1683.

In his political career, Frankland entered Parliament at the 1685 English general election as MP for Thirsk, succeeding his father. He did not actively participate in parliamentary proceedings but was re-elected in the 1689 general election. He was appointed a Commissioner for excise in April 1689 but lost the position in October of the same year due to his inability to subscribe to a government loan.

Frankland was returned again as a Whig MP for Thirsk in the 1690 election. In February 1691, he was appointed joint Postmaster-General alongside Sir Robert Cotton, a Tory, sharing the role between a Whig and a Tory. He held this position until 1715, making improvements particularly to overseas mail services.

He did not stand in the 1695 general election but was elected MP for Hedon in a by-election on 7 December 1695. Frankland signed the Association in February 1696, and voted in favor of fixing the guinea at 22 shillings in March. He was involved in efforts to modify laws relating to the postal service and voted for the attainder of Sir John Fenwick on 25 November 1696.

Upon the death of his father on 2 August 1697, he inherited the baronetcy. Frankland was returned unopposed at the 1698 general election as MP for Thirsk and continued to serve thereafter, being re-elected in multiple subsequent elections (1701, 1702, 1705, 1708, 1710). He used his influence in Yorkshire and the postal service to impact election results. He supported the Court candidate for Speaker in 1705 and backed the naturalization of the Palatines in 1708.

Frankland engaged in efforts to establish postal services in Dumfries and Carlisle, contributing to the broader discussion of union-related matters. He also voted for the impeachment of Dr. Sacheverell. In 1711, he was appointed to draft legislation for a general Post Office for Great Britain and its colonies. Around this time, he encountered a conflict between his postmaster role and parliamentary seat due to a clause in the Lottery Act, which led to his vacating his parliamentary seat on 25 May 1711 after voting against an amendment to the South Sea bill.

He retained his position as joint Postmaster-General until 1715, after the accession of King George I. Subsequently, he was appointed a Commissioner for Customs, serving until 1718, when health issues led to his retirement. He received a pension of £500 annually and withdrew from public life.

In 1722, Frankland financed the rebuilding of the church at Thirkleby. He died on 30 October 1726 and was buried at Thirkleby. His estate included lands inherited by his eldest son, Thomas, and other assets amounting to over £13,000 distributed among family members, servants, and tenants.

Frankland and his wife had nine children: Thomas (who succeeded him and served as MP for Thirsk and Harwich), William (died 1714), John (died young in Hamburg), Henry (Governor of Bengal, died 1728), Richard (died 1761), Frederick Meinhardt (c. 1694–1768), Robert (murdered in India), Mary (died 1722), and Frances. Several of his sons served as MPs for Thirsk. Thirkleby Hall was rebuilt in 1790, and the church was replaced in 1851.