Thomas Alcock (1801 – 1866) was a British Member of Parliament for 24 years non-consecutively, a progressive Liberal on questions of expansion of the popular ballot he was also an established church benefactor. Alcock was born in Putney, son of

Joseph Alcock Joseph Alcock (1760–1821) was a British Civil Servant in the Treasury between 1785 and 1821. Early life Joseph's parents were William Alcock and Mary Mawbey. Mary’s brothers included John and Joseph Mawbey who owned a successful vinegar distil ...

of Roehampton then in the same parish. His father, a clerk at the Treasury, was a nephew of Sir

Joseph Mawbey Sir Joseph Mawbey, 1st Baronet (2 December 1730 – 16 June 1798) was an English distiller and politician who sat in the British House of Commons between 1761 and 1790. He was a political supporter of John Wilkes. Early life He was born near ...

. Thomas siblings included Maria, who was married to the Reverend Brymer Belcher, and Letitia who married Charles Parke of Henbury in Dorset. Two brothers, Joseph and John predeceased him. He was schooled at

Harrow Harrow may refer to: Places * Harrow, Victoria, Australia * Harrow, Ontario, Canada * The Harrow, County Wexford, a village in Ireland * London Borough of Harrow, England ** Harrow, London, a town in London ** Harrow (UK Parliament constituency) ...

and served briefly in the 1st Dragoon Guards. In 1828-9 he travelled in Russia, Turkey, Persia and Greece, and later had an account of his travels privately printed. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the rotten borough of

Newton Newton most commonly refers to: * Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist * Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton Newton may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Newton'' (film), a 2017 Indian film * Newton ( ...

, Lancashire between 1826 and 1830, and after the Great Reform Act, sat for Ludlow, Shropshire from 1839 to 1840, and having lost elections such as the 1841 East Surrey by-election served that seat from 1847 to 1865. He was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey for 1837. Alcock was politically progressive and in favour of extending the franchise. He spent more than £40,000 on building churches, parsonages and schools, and the endowment of churches, in Surrey and Lincolnshire. He was a strong advocate for the preservation of commons and open spaces for the use and recreation of the public, and published a pamphlet on the subject in 1845. He was also responsible for extensively remodelling the mansion of Kingswood Warren in Surrey, to the designs of the architect T.R. Knowles. He died on 22 August 1866 at Great Malvern, Worcestershire. His probate was resworn May 1892, under £90,000, implying he left at least .https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk Calendar of Probates and Administrations

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* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Alcock, Thomas 1801 births 1866 deaths UK MPs 1837–1841 UK MPs 1847–1852 UK MPs 1852–1857 UK MPs 1857–1859 UK MPs 1859–1865 Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for constituencies in Shropshire High Sheriffs of Surrey People educated at Harrow School