Sir Thomas Skipwith, 2nd Baronet (ca. 165215 June 1710) was a Member of Parliament, and theatrical manager in London in the late 17th and early 18th century.

Family

Skipwith was the son of

Sir Thomas Skipwith, 1st Baronet Sir Thomas Skipwith, 1st Baronet (ca. 16202 June 1694) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1659 and 1660. Skipwith was the son of Edward Skipwith of Gosburton and Grantham and his wife Elizabeth Hatcher, daughter of S ...

and his wife Elizabeth Lathom daughter of Ralph Lathom of Upminster, Essex.History of Parliament Online – Skipwith, Thomas, (c.1620-94)
/ref> He married Margaret, daughter of

George Brydges, 6th Baron Chandos George Brydges, 6th Baron Chandos (1620–1654), was the son of Grey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos (c. 1580 – 10 August 1621) and Lady Anne Stanley, a descendant of King Henry VIII's sister, Princess Mary Tudor. George's stepfather was Mervy ...

, after being admitted to

Gray's Inn The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and Wa ...

on 5 August 1670.

Career

After a brief military career, Skipwith was elected a Member of Parliament for Malmsbury in 1696.History of Parliament Online – Skipwith, Thomas (c.1652-1710)
/ref> On 31 March 1682, Dame Mary Davenant, widow of

Sir William Davenant Sir William Davenant (baptised 3 March 1606 – 7 April 1668), also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned bo ...

, sold Skipwith a half share in the

Duke's Company The Duke's Company was a theatre company chartered by King Charles II at the start of the Restoration era, 1660. Sir William Davenant was manager of the company under the patronage of Prince James, Duke of York. During hats period, theatres b ...

. He later formed a partnership with his late father's clerk, Christopher Rich, to manage the

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto ...

. During this time the theatre ceased performing serious dramatic works in favour of lighter entertainments, leading the noted actor

Thomas Betterton Thomas Patrick Betterton (August 1635 – 28 April 1710), the leading male actor and theatre manager during Restoration England, son of an under-cook to King Charles I, was born in London. Apprentice and actor Betterton was born in August 16 ...

to petition the

Lord Chamberlain The Lord Chamberlain of the Household is the most senior officer of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom, supervising the departments which support and provide advice to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom while also acting as the main c ...

in protest.

Personal life

Skipwith was parodied by

Delarivier Manley Delarivier "Delia" Manley (1663 or c. 1670 – 24 July 1724) was an English author, playwright, and political pamphleteer. Manley is sometimes referred to, with Aphra Behn and Eliza Haywood, as one of " the fair triumvirate of wit", which is a ...

as 'Sir Peter Vainlove' in the ''Adventures of Rivella'' published in 1714. She described him as having: Manley also described his pursuit of two mistresses, and Skipworth's philandering led to him living apart from his wife on at least one occasion. In 1707, Isabella Wentworth, a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Anne, wrote privately of his return: Skipwith left substantial sums to his housekeeper, Susanna Gurney, and her daughter, Charlotte. Historian D. W. Hayton, who describes Skipwith as 'an engaging roué', suggests this 'strengthens the suspicion' that Gurney was also his mistress, and her daughter his illegitimate child.

References

1650s births 1710 deaths 17th-century English people English MPs 1695–1698 Baronets in the Baronetage of England

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 ...

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