Share Bookmark

Baron Thomas Lyttelton

Male 1744 - 1779  (35 years)    Has more than 100 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree.

Personal Information    |    Notes    |    All

  • Name Thomas Lyttelton 
    Prefix Baron 
    Birth 1744 
    Gender Male 
    Death 28 Nov 1779 
    Siblings 1 Sibling 
    Person ID I514697  Geneagraphie
    Last Modified 31 Mar 2009 

    Father Baron George Lyttelton,   b. 17 Jan 1709   d. 24 Aug 1773 (Age 64 years) 
    Mother Lucy Fortescue,   b. Bef 1727   d. 19 Jan 1747 (Age 20 years) 
    Marriage Abt Jun 1742 
    Family ID F249524  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family NN Warburton   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Marriage 1763 
    Family ID F210023  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 31 Mar 2009 

  • Photos Photos (Log in)Photos (Log in)

  • Notes 
    • 2nd Baron Lyttelton

      He briefly represented Bewdley in the House of Commons.
      Lord Lyttelton had no legitimate issue and on his death in 1779 the barony became extinct. However, he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his uncle, the seventh Baronet.

      "The Wicked Lord Lyttelton"
      Thomas has a chequered career. He is talented as a writer, and is an impressive speaker when he enters Parliament. He has the "great presence of mind" to fetch the doctor when the Earl of Chatham suffers a "convulsion fit" in the Lords.
      At least one person has a charitable view.
      "Solitude was to him the most unsupportable torment, and to banish reflections he fled to company he despised and ridiculed.
      Comment on Thomas (second Baron) Lyttelton by Elizabeth Montagu 's friend Mrs Carter, quoted in Reginald Blunt, Mrs Montagu, 'Queen of the Blues'."
      His own view is that he got into bad habits on the European trip, thanks to an unwise decision by his elders.
      It was determined for me to make the tour of Europe previous to my marriage, in order to perfectionate my matrimonial qualifications; and the lovely idea of the fair maid I left behind was presented to me as possessing a talismanic power to preserve me from seduction.
      From letter of Thomas Lyttelton, quoted in at item on the Web
      The notion that he was virtuous before embarking on this trip should, however, be taken with a pinch of salt. According to the Oxford DNB, he was exhibiting erratic behaviour at the age of sixteen. His sister Lucy was also reckoned to be a tearaway in her younger days. How far did they flout convention?
      The role of his uncle Thomas Smith may be relevant here. Smith is the illegitimate son of Sir Thomas Lyttelton , but is treated in most respects as a member of the family at Hagley, where his niece and nephew are growing up. What more natural than curiosity about his origins, leading to speculation and experimentation about sex? They may not even realise there is anything wrong with incest until she becomes pregnant. But the pregnancy (according to this narrative) is unknown to young Lyttelton. He is kept in ignorance by being sent abroad: the story that he is being made to wait until a marriage settlement can be made is a cover-up. When the baby arrives, his father arranges to have it adopted by John and Ann Becher, so he does not discover what has happened until many years later.
      The role of his uncle Thomas Smith may be relevant here. Smith is the illegitimate son of Sir Thomas Lyttelton , but is treated in most respects as a member of the family at Hagley, where his niece and nephew are growing up. What more natural than curiosity about his origins, leading to speculation and experimentation about sex? They may not even realise there is anything wrong with incest until she becomes pregnant. But the pregnancy (according to this narrative) is unknown to young Lyttelton. He is kept in ignorance by being sent abroad: the story that he is being made to wait until a marriage settlement can be made is a cover-up. When the baby arrives, his father arranges to have it adopted by John and Ann Becher, so he does not discover what has happened until many years later.

      Lyttelton's death is suicide. He invents the story about the ghostly warning to cover up his intentions.
      The reason for this suicide is his discovery of the consequence of an earlier indiscretion, namely incest with his sister Lucy. He was sent abroad because she became pregnant.
      Since he was abroad at the time, he is unaware of the birth of an illegitimate child. But something happens in 1779 which brings it to his attention. Maybe someone has found out and is threatening him with exposure. Just compare the portraits of John Harman Becher and Thomas Lyttelton

      On Thursday, the 25th of November, 1779, Thomas Lord Lyttelton, when he came to breakfast. Declared to Mrs. Flood, wife of Frederick Flood, Esq., of the kingdom of Ireland, and to the three Miss Amphletts, who were lodged in his house in Hill Street, London (where he then also was), that he had had an extraordinary dream the Night before; he said he thought he was in a room which a Bird flew into, which appearance was suddenly changed into that of a Woman dress'd in white, who bade him prepare to Die; to which he answered, 'I hope not soon, not in two Months'; she replied, 'Yes, in three Days.'
      When he had dressed himself that day to go to the House of Lords, he said he thought he did not look as if he was likely to Die: in the Evening of the following Day, being Friday, he told the eldest Miss Amphlett that she look'd melancholy; 'But,' said he, 'you are foolish and fearfull, I have lived two Days, and, God willing, I will live out the third." On the morning of Saturday he told the same ladies that he was very well, and believed he shou'd bilk the ghost. Some hours afterwards he went with them, Mr Fortescue and Captain Wolseley, to Pitt Place, at Epsom; withdrew to his bed-chamber soon after eleven o'Clock at night, talked cheerfully to his Servant, and particularly inquired of him what care had been taken to provide good Eoles for his breakfast the next morning; Stepd into Bed with his Waistcoat on and as his Servant was pulling it off, put his hand to his side, sunk back, and immediately expired without a groan
      With beating heart and straining eyes he watched the hand draw nearer and nearer. A minute more to go, half a minute. Now it pointed to the fateful twelve \endash and nothing happened. It crept slowly past. The crisis was over. He put down the watch with a deep sigh of relief, and then broke into a peal of laughter \endash discordant, jubilant, defiant.
      "This mysterious lady is not a true prophetess, I find," he said to his valet, after spending a few minutes in further mirthful waiting. "And now give me my medicine; I will wait no longer." The valet proceeded to mix his usual medicine, a dose of rhubarb, stirring it, as no spoon was at hand, with a tooth-brush lying on the table, "You dirty fellow!" his lordship exclaimed. "Go down and fetch a spoon."
      When the servant returned a few minutes later he found, to his horror, his master lying back on the pillow, unconscious and breathing heavily. He ran downstairs again, shouting, "Help! Help! My lord is dying!" The alarmed guests rushed frantically to the chamber, only to find their host almost at his last gasp. A few moments later he was dead, with the watch still clutched in his hand, pointing to half-past twelve. He had died at the very stroke of midnight, as foretold by his ghostly visitant of three nights previously.
    • Thomas Lyttelton: a fantastic narrative



Home Page |  What's New |  Most Wanted |  Surnames |  Photos |  Histories |  Documents |  Cemeteries |  Places |  Dates |  Reports |  Sources