Thomas Carter

Thomas Carter PC (circa 1690 – 3 September 1763) was an Anglo-Irish politician who held various offices in Ireland during the 18th century. His career included serving as the Master of the Rolls in Ireland and as Secretary of State in Ireland. The British writer Horace Walpole described him as "an able and intriguing man."

**Early Life and Education**

Thomas Carter was born around 1690, the son of Thomas Carter (1650–1726) and Margaret Houghton of Robertstown, County Kildare. His father, Thomas Carter the elder, was a Member of Parliament (MP) and held the position of Second Sergeant at Arms. He had served in the Irish army during the revolution, notably at Derry and the Battle of the Boyne, and had acquired the extensive estates of the Countess Roscommon through his second marriage in 1702. Thomas Carter, the subject of this biography, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, entering on 9 January 1701 and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1710. He also studied at the King's Inns.

**Family**

On 12 October 1719, Carter married Mary Claxton at St. Anne's Church in Dublin. Mary was the youngest daughter of Thomas Claxton and Lucy Pearce and was a first cousin of Edward Lovett Pearce, the famed architect. The marriage produced two sons and three daughters. Their daughter Frances was the mother of Frances, Lady Jersey. Another daughter, Susan, was a grandmother of Elizabeth, Marchioness of Thomond. Through his daughter Frances, Carter was a great-grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the latter's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

Thomas Carter's son, also named Thomas Carter, married Anna Armytage in 1770 and had a daughter, Mary, who later married Skeffington Thompson. However, young Thomas Carter died shortly after his marriage. Carter's eldest son, Henry Boyle Carter, succeeded him at Castlemartin.

**Residences and Pursuits**

Carter initially leased Castle Martin in the early 1730s before acquiring the estate in 1761, two years prior to his death. He was known to invest in farming and country pursuits, importing superior breeds of cattle.

**Political Career**

Carter served as the MP for Trim in County Meath from 1719 to 1727. In 1727, he was elected as a member for Hillsborough, Dungarvan, and Lismore but chose to represent Hillsborough until 1761. The Carter family had a notable political influence, and Thomas Carter became a prominent figure within the Whig party, known for his vigorous and often provocative political tactics.

He was appointed Master of the Rolls in Ireland in 1731, a position he held until 1754. He was also involved in political management associated with the Lord Lieutenant and was recognized as a skilled parliamentarian and political organizer. Carter was known for his strong opposition to English interference in Irish affairs and was part of the Patriot party during the late 1740s, alongside Henry Boyle and Anthony Malone.

**The Money Bill Dispute**

One of the most significant episodes in Carter's career was the Money Bill dispute between 1753 and 1756. This conflict arose when the Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer, Henry Boyle, refused to transfer Irish tax surplus funds to London. Primate Stone, Archbishop of Armagh, attempted to reduce the influence of key parliamentary figures, including Carter. Carter, along with Boyle and Malone, used popular support and political maneuvering to challenge the archbishop's efforts. The dispute became a notable precedent for subsequent Irish political conflicts and was characterized by intrigue and opposition to external influence.

**Later Life and Death**

Thomas Carter died on 3 September 1763 while staying at Rathnally House in Trim with his eldest son. He was approximately 73 years old. A few days after his death, his son Thomas married Anna Armytage, but Thomas Carter's only surviving grandson, also named Thomas Carter, died young.

**Legacy and Descendants**

Carter's descendants continued to reside at Castlemartin until it was sold in 1850. His legacy includes familial ties to notable figures such as Diana, Princess of Wales, and the lineages connecting him to the current British royal family through his daughter Frances.

**References**

- Evans, Richard K. (2007). *The Ancestry of Diana Princess of Wales; for Twelve Generations.* New England Historic Genealogical Society Boston Massachusetts.

- Gray, Henry Colin, and Brian Howard Harrison (2004). *Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.*

**External Links**

- [9 Henrietta Street, Dublin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9_Henrietta_Street)