Thomas Medlycott

Thomas Medlycott (1662–1738), of Binfield, Berkshire, and Dublin, Ireland, was a British lawyer who was an Irish attorney general and later Commissioner of Revenue and Excise for Ireland. He was first a Tory and later a Whig politician who sat in the Parliament of Ireland from 1692 to 1738, and in the English House of Commons and British House of Commons between 1705 and 1734.

Early life Medlycott was baptized on 22 May 1662, the third son of Thomas Medlycott of Abingdon, Berkshire. He was admitted at Middle Temple in 1680 and was called to the bar in 1687. He married by licence dated 1 January 1687, Sarah Goddard, daughter of Mrs Ursula Goddard, widow, of Mugwell (Monkwell) Street, Cripplegate, London.

Career in Ireland Medlycott began his career in Ireland as secretary and estate manager to James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde. He was called to the Irish bar 1691 and appointed Attorney-general for the County palatine of Tipperary by 1692. In 1692 he was returned as Irish Member of Parliament for Kildare Borough and became Freeman of Drogheda in 1694. He was returned again for Kildare in 1695. In 1697, he was entrusted with a sensitive task of organizing opposition to a bill confirming the King's grant of James II's Irish estates. King William had overridden the former King's settlement of estates, worth about £22,000, on his children and had given them to Elizabeth Villiers, allegedly William III's mistress, which had particularly upset Princess Anne. Medlycott obtained lands in Kilkenny, Tipperary and Waterford from the Duke of Ormonde in 1698 and 1699 and in 1701 purchased more land in Mayo from Ormond's brother, Lord Arran. In 1703 he was returned as Irish MP for Clonmell and in 1713 for Ballynakill.

Death and legacy Medlycott died before September 1738, leaving two sons and a daughter by his wife Sarah. However he left most of his estate in trust for Thomas John Medlycott, originally Thomas Muschamp, allegedly an illegitimate son.