Thomas Ashburnham, 6th Earl of Ashburnham

Thomas Ashburnham, 6th Earl of Ashburnham (8 April 1855 – 12 May 1924) was a British Army officer and peer, the last Earl of Ashburnham.

Early life Thomas Ashburnham was the fifth of seven sons born to Bertram Ashburnham, 4th Earl of Ashburnham, by his wife, Lady Catherine Charlotte Baillie. His eldest brother, also named Bertram, succeeded to the title as 5th Earl in 1878.

Ashburnham was educated at Adams Grammar School in Newport, Shropshire, before going up to Trinity College, Cambridge. Their marriage took place on 10 June 1903 at St. Anne's Parish Church, Fredericton. Captain Ashburnham bought two houses on Brunswick Street, Fredericton, one of which had been his wife's family home, and the other an inn, and had them connected by a second floor conservatory over a porte-cochere leading to a garden. The resulting residence was called Ashburnham House. The couple, who lived comfortably on a large allowance from the Ashburnham family, had no children. The new peer very soon left for England to settle his brother's affairs and take up his new responsibilities. He returned to Canada in the spring, leaving again with his wife, now Lady Ashburnham, on 15 May 1913. They took up residence at Ashburnham Place, but remained in England for only thirteen months before returning to Fredericton in June 1914.

On 26 April 1924, Lord and Lady Ashburnham left Fredericton, taking passage on the SS Regina to make a six-month visit to England. However, during the trans-Atlantic journey Ashburnham became ill with a cold and developed bronchial pneumonia. He died on 12 May 1924 in London and was buried in the family vault at the parish church of Ashburnham.