Thomas Cartwright

Thomas Cartwright (1671–1748), of Aynho Park, Northamptonshire was an English landowner and Tory politician, who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1695 and 1748. As the longest serving Member he eventually became Father of the House. Early life Cartwright was the only surviving son of William Cartwright, of Aynho in Northamptonshire and Bloxham in Oxfordshire, and his wife Ursula Fairfax, daughter of Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron. In 1676, he succeeded both his father and grandfather. He was admitted to St Catharine's College, Cambridge in 1687 where Samuel Bradford was his tutor. Career Cartwright served as High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1693. He was returned as Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire in an expensive contest at the 1695 English general election. Lord Charles Spencer was a Whig candidate, but fortunately his father Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland baulked at the required expenditure. Cartwright was then defeated at the 1698 English general election. He served as High Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 1699. He did not stand at the first general election of 1701 but in the second general election of 1701 he was returned after accepting a pact with Sir Justinian Isham, 4th Baronet that he had previously declined. He voted on 26 February 1702 for the resolution to vindicate the Commons’ proceedings in the impeaching the King's ministers. He was returned again at the 1702 English general election but was absent from the House for some time because he had sprained his foot badly in a hunting accident. He was absent at the division on the Tack and was subsequently listed as a sneaker. At the 1705 English general election he was returned in a contest again with Isham. He voted against the Court candidate for Speaker. He was returned unopposed at the 1708 British general election but was not an active Member. He voted against the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell in 1710. He was returned unopposed again at the 1710 British general election and was listed as one of the ‘worthy patriots’ who approved the exposure of the previous ministry's mismanagements, and as a ‘Tory patriot’ who voted for peace in 1711 . He also became a member of the October Club.