Thomas Lennard, 1st Earl of Sussex

Thomas Lennard, 1st Earl of Sussex, 15th Baron Dacre, (13 May 1654 – 30 October 1715) was an English peer. He became Earl of Sussex in 1674 when he married Lady Anne Fitzroy, illegitimate daughter of Charles II and Lady Barbara Palmer. The Baron Dacre title became abeyant in 1715 following his death.

Early life

He was the son of Francis Lennard, 14th Baron Dacre (1619–1662) and the former Elizabeth Bayning (1624–1686), who was created suo jure Countess of Sheppey for life in 1680.

Career Upon the death of his father on 12 May 1662, he succeeded as the 15th Baron Dacre. Less than five months after his wedding, he was created 1st Earl of Sussex on 5 October 1674.

Personal life

On 16 May 1674, Lord Dacre was married to Lady Anne Fitzroy (1661–1721), the illegitimate daughter of King Charles II and Dacre's first cousin, Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland. Together, they were the parents of:

Henry Lennard, who died young.

Descendants Through his daughter Anne, he was a grandfather of Thomas Barrett-Lennard, 17th Baron Dacre (1717–1786), Hon. Anna Maria Roper (1719–1782), Hon. Charles Roper (1721–1754), and the Rev. Hon. Richard Henry Roper (1723–1810).