Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham
Thomas Pelham, 1st Baron Pelham of Laughton Bt was a moderate English Whig politician and Member of Parliament for several constituencies. He is best remembered as the father of two British prime ministers who, between them, served for 18 years as prime minister.
Pelham was born in Laughton, Sussex, the son of Sir John Pelham, 3rd Baronet and his wife Lucy Sidney. Pelham was educated at Tonbridge School and Christ Church, Oxford.
He sat for East Grinstead from October 1678 until August 1679. In October 1679 he was returned for Lewes, serving until 1702; he subsequently chose to sit for Sussex, a seat he held until 1705.
Personal life
On 26 November 1679 Pelham married Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Sir William Jones, Attorney General from 1650 to 1679 and his wife Elizabeth Alleyn, with whom he had two daughters:- Hon. Elizabeth Pelham, married Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend
- Hon. Lucy Pelham, died unmarried
- Hon. Grace Pelham, married George Naylor
- Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle
- Hon. Henry Pelham
- Hon. Frances Pelham, married Christopher Wandesford, 2nd Viscount Castlecomer
- Hon. Gertrude Pelham, married Edmund Polhill
- Hon. Lucy Pelham, married Henry Clinton, 7th Earl of Lincoln
- Hon. Margaret Pelham, married Sir John Shelley, 4th Baronet