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 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 (1620–1655), was an English peer who supported Charles I in the English Civil War. Life He was born 9 August 1620, the elder son of Grey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos (c. 1580 – 10 August 1621) and Lady Anne ...

, 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 Wale ...

on 5 August 1670. Margaret was the most senior descendant of

Anne Stanley, Countess of Castlehaven Anne Stanley (May 1580 – c. 8 October 1647) was an English noblewoman. She was the eldest daughter of the Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby, Earl of Derby and, through her two marriages, became Baroness Chandos and later Countess of Ca ...

, who was a descendant in turn of

Mary Tudor, Queen of France Mary Tudor ( ; 18 March 1496 – 25 June 1533) was an English princess who was briefly Queen of France as the third wife of King Louis XII. Louis was more than 30 years her senior. Mary was the fifth child of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth ...

. If the will of

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

, and invalidity of

Lady Katherine Grey Katherine Seymour, Countess of Hertford ( Lady Katherine Grey; 25 August 1540 – 26 January 1568) was a younger sister of Lady Jane Grey. A granddaughter of Henry VIII's sister Mary, she emerged as a prospective successor to her cousin, Eliz ...

’s marriage was to be believed, upon Margaret’s death, Sir Thomas’ son and heir, George, would theoretically be the King of England.

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 bot ...

, 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 that period, theatres ...

. 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 listed building, Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) an ...

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

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

to petition the

Lord Chamberlain The Lord Chamberlain of the Household is the most senior officer of the Royal Households of the United Kingdom, Royal Household of the United Kingdom, supervising the departments which support and provide advice to the Monarchy of the United Ki ...

in protest.

Personal life

Skipwith was parodied by

Delarivier Manley Delarivier "Delia" Manley (1663 or – 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 later at ...

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 A ...

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