Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton, GCH, PC (30 December 1799 – 7 March 1882), known as Thomas Grosvenor until 1814, was a British nobleman and

Tory A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. Th ...

politician. He served as

Lord Steward of the Household The Lord Steward or Lord Steward of the Household is an official of the Royal Household in England. He is always a peer. Until 1924, he was always a member of the Government. Until 1782, the office was one of considerable political importance ...

in 1835 in Sir Robert Peel's first government.

Background

Wilton was the second son of

Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster, (22 March 1767 – 17 February 1845) was the son of the 1st Earl Grosvenor, whom he succeeded in 1802 as 2nd Earl Grosvenor. He was created Marquess of Westminster in 1831. He wa ...

and his wife Lady Eleanor Egerton, daughter of

Thomas Egerton, 1st Earl of Wilton Thomas Grey Egerton, 1st Earl of Wilton (14 August 1749 – 23 September 1814), known as Sir Thomas Grey Egerton, Bt from 1766 to 1784, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1772 to 1784 when he was raised to the peerage ...

. Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster was his elder brother and

Robert Grosvenor, 1st Baron Ebury Robert Grosvenor, 1st Baron Ebury PC (24 April 1801 – 18 November 1893), styled Lord Robert Grosvenor from 1831 to 1857, was a British courtier and Whig politician. He served as Comptroller of the Household between 1830 and 1834 and as Treas ...

, his younger brother. In 1814, at the age of 14, he succeeded to the earldom of Wilton according to a special remainder on the death of his maternal grandfather.thepeerage.com Thomas Grosvenor Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton
/ref> He assumed by sign manual the surname of Egerton in lieu of Grosvenor in 1821. He also inherited

Heaton Park Heaton Park is a public park in Manchester, England, covering an area of over . The park includes the grounds of a Grade I listed, neoclassical 18th century country house, Heaton Hall. The hall, remodelled by James Wyatt in 1772, is now only ...

through his maternal grandfather.History of Heaton Park at heatonpark.org.uk.

Political career

Lord Wilton took his seat in the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...

on his twenty-first birthday in 1820. In January 1835 he was appointed

in the Tory administration of

Sir Robert Peel Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, (5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850) was a British Conservative statesman who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834–1835 and 1841–1846) simultaneously serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer ...

and the following February he was admitted to 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 ...

. However, the government fell in April 1835 and Lord Wilton was never to return to a government office.

Horse racing

Lord Wilton was also a leading sportsman. Considered an expert horseman, he established the Heaton Park Races in 1827.

Yachting

He was also interested in yachting, and was a founding member of the Royal Mersey Yacht Club in 1844. He was Commodore of the

Royal Yacht Squadron The Royal Yacht Squadron (RYS) is a British yacht club. Its clubhouse is Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. Member yachts are given the suffix RYS to their names, and are permitted (with the appropriate warrant) to we ...

from 1849 to 1881. Yacht Xarifa

In this capacity, he was most notable for inviting members of the

New York Yacht Club The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. ...

to race in the Royal Yacht Squadron regatta open to all nations around the Isle of Wight on 22 August 1851. The N. Y. Y. C. yacht ''America'' won the event and its silver trophy was subsequently renamed the

America's Cup The America's Cup, informally known as the Auld Mug, is a trophy awarded in the sport of sailing. It is the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one f ...

. Lord Wilton was inducted into the

America's Cup Hall of Fame The America's Cup Hall of Fame, located at the Herreshoff Marine Museum of Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, honors individuals for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup sailing competition. Candidates eligible for consideration include skippers ...

in 2001 in a ceremony at the Royal Yacht Squadron during the America's Cup Jubilee.

Music

Lord Wilton was also a composer. He composed the anthem "O Praise the Lord, all ye heathen", a hymn titled "Hymn to Eros", as well as several other vocal compositions.

Family

Lord Wilton married firstly Lady Mary Stanley, daughter of the Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, in 1821. They had eleven children, of whom only five reached adulthood: * Lady Eleanor Egerton (1823–1824). *

Thomas Egerton, Viscount Grey de Wilton Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the ...

(1825–1830). * Lady Mary Egerton (1827–1838). * Lady Margaret Egerton (1830–1831). *

Arthur Egerton, Viscount Grey de Wilton Arthur is a common male given name of Brythonic origin. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The etymology is disputed. It may derive from the Celtic ''Artos'' meaning “Bear”. Another theory, more ...

(1831-1831). * Lady Elizabeth Egerton (1832–1892). Married

Dudley FitzGerald-de Ros, 24th Baron de Ros Lieutenant-General Dudley Charles FitzGerald-de Ros, 23rd Baron de Ros of Helmsley, (11 March 1827 – 29 April 1907) was a soldier, courtier and the premier Baron of England. Biography He was the son of William FitzGerald-de Ros and Lady Geor ...

in 1853. * Arthur Egerton, 3rd Earl of Wilton (1833–1885). * Lady Katherine Grey Egerton (1835–1920). Married the Hon. Henry John Coke (1827–1916), son of Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. * Lady Emily Egerton (1837–1839). *

Seymour Egerton, 4th Earl of Wilton Seymour John Grey "Sim" Egerton, 4th Earl of Wilton (20 January 1839 – 3 January 1898) was a peer of the United Kingdom from the Egerton family. He was the owner and namesake of the Lord Wilton violin. A musician, he was an associate of Arthu ...

(1839–1898). Married Laura Caroline, daughter of William Russell. They were parents of

Arthur Egerton, 5th Earl of Wilton Arthur is a common male given name of Brythonic origin. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The etymology is disputed. It may derive from the Celtic ''Artos'' meaning “Bear”. Another theory, more wi ...

. * Lady Alice Magdalene Grey Egerton (1842–1925). Married Sir Henry des Voeux, 5th Baronet. After his first wife's death in December 1858 Lord Wilton married secondly Isabella Smith in September 1863. They had no children. Lord Wilton died in March 1883, aged 82, and was succeeded in the earldom by his third but eldest surviving son

Arthur Arthur is a common male given name of Brittonic languages, Brythonic origin. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The etymology is disputed. It may derive from the Celtic ''Artos'' meaning “Bear”. An ...

. The Countess of Wilton died in January 1916.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilton, Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl Of 1799 births 1882 deaths Earls in the Peerage of the United Kingdom Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Egerton, Thomas

Thomas Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...

Hulme Trust