Thomas Henry Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath (15 July 1862 – 9 June 1946), styled Viscount Weymouth until 1896, was a British landowner and Conservative politician. He held ministerial office as Under-Secretary of State for India in 1905 and Master of the Horse between 1922 and 1924. He was also involved in local politics and served as Chairman of Wiltshire County Council between 1906 and his death in 1946.

Background and education

Known from birth by the

courtesy title A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but rather is used through custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title). In some co ...

of Viscount Weymouth, he was born at the Stable Yard, St James's, Westminster, the eldest son of John Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath, by the Honourable Frances Isabella Catherine Vesey, a daughter of Thomas Vesey, 3rd Viscount de Vesci. He was educated at Eton and

Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. One of Oxford's oldest colleges, it was founded around 1263 by John I de Balliol, a landowner from Barnard Castle in County Durham, who provided the f ...

, where he graduated BA in 1886, in 1888 promoted by seniority to MA.

Political career

Lord Weymouth sat as Member of Parliament for Frome between 1886 and 1892 and from 1895 to 1896, when he succeeded his father in the marquessate and entered the House of Lords. He served under Arthur Balfour as Under-Secretary of State for India between January and December 1905. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Somerset in 1904 and Chairman of Wiltshire County Council in 1906, and held both posts simultaneously until his death in 1946. Lord Bath was made a Knight of the Garter in 1917. He returned to the government in 1922, when

Bonar Law Andrew Bonar Law ( ; 16 September 1858 – 30 October 1923) was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from October 1922 to May 1923. Law was born in the British colony of New Brunswick (now a ...

appointed him Master of the Horse. He was sworn of the

Privy Council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...

at the same time. He continued in this office until the Conservative government fell in January 1924, the last year under the premiership of

Stanley Baldwin Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, (3 August 186714 December 1947) was a British Conservative Party politician who dominated the government of the United Kingdom between the world wars, serving as prime minister on three occasions, ...

. Lord Bath was also a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and an Honorary Colonel of that regiment and of the 4th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry. In 1937 he was appointed Pro-Chancellor of

Bristol University , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

Family

On 19 April 1890, Lord Bath married Violet Caroline Mordaunt (28 February 1869–29 May 1928), daughter of Harriet, Lady Mordaunt. At the time of Violet's birth her mother had been the wife of Sir Charles Mordaunt, 10th Baronet, but she was said to be the illegitimate daughter of Viscount Cole, who was later co-respondent in a divorce action. They had five children: *Lady Alice Kathleen Violet Thynne (1891–1977), married Lt-Col Oliver Stanley, son of Edward Stanley, 4th Baron Sheffield and had issue. *Lady Emma Margery Thynne (1893–1980), married 1921 (div 1942) William Compton, 6th Marquess of Northampton; no issue. *Second Lieutenant John Alexander Thynne, Viscount Weymouth (1895–1916), killed at Hulluch near Loos in northeastern France while on active service as a

2nd Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in the

Royal Scots Greys The Royal Scots Greys was a Cavalry regiments of the British Army, cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1707 until 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) to form the Royal Scots Dragoon Guard ...

. He is buried in the

Vermelles British Cemetery Vermelles British Cemetery is a First World War British war cemetery at Vermelles, a village 10 kilometres north-west of Lens, Pas-de-Calais. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker Sir Herbert Baker (9 June 1862 – 4 February 1946 ...

. *Lady Mary Beatrice Thynne (1903–1974), married firstly, in 1927, Charles Wilson, 3rd Baron Nunburnholme and had issue, including the 4th and 5th Barons. She married secondly,

Ulick Alexander Sir James Ulick Francis Canning Alexander (10 February 1889 – 4 April 1973) was a British Army officer, businessman and courtier in several of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom. Early life and education He was the son of James Alex ...

. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on 26 April 1923. * Henry Frederick Thynne, 6th Marquess of Bath (1905–1992) The Marchioness of Bath died in May 1928, aged 59. Lord Bath paid for the construction of a village hall at Horningsham, near the family seat at Longleat, as a memorial to her. He remained a widower until his death in June 1946, aged 83. He was succeeded by his second and only surviving son, Henry.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bath, Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of 1862 births 1946 deaths People educated at Eton College Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford Companions of the Order of the Bath Thynne, Thomas Councillors in South West England English justices of the peace Knights of Justice of the Order of St John Knights of the Garter Lord-Lieutenants of Somerset 5 Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Members of Wiltshire County Council Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry officers Somerset County Cricket Club presidents Thomas Thynne, Thomas Thynne, Thomas