Thomas Sotheron-Estcourt

Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron-Estcourt PC DL JP (4 April 1801 – 6 January 1876), known as Thomas Bucknall-Estcourt until 1839 and as Thomas Sotheron from 1839 to 1855, was a British Conservative politician.

Early life and education Sotheron-Estcourt was born on 4 April 1801, the eldest son of Thomas Grimston Estcourt, Member of Parliament (MP) for Devizes and Oxford University, son of Thomas Estcourt, Member of Parliament for Cricklade. His mother was Eleanor, daughter of James Sutton. He was educated at Harrow School from 1813, and matriculated in 1818 at Oriel College, Oxford, graduating B.A. in 1823, M.A. in 1826.

Politics Estcourt was elected to Parliament as MP for Marlborough in 1829. He was elected to parliament again in 1835 as MP for Devizes, switched to North Wiltshire in 1844, and continued in the Commons until 1865. Sotheron resumed the name Estcourt in 1855, and entered Lord Derby's second government in 1858 as President of the Poor Law Board. The next year, he became Home Secretary, but the government soon fell. He had been sworn of the Privy Council in 1858.

Later life and death Sotheron-Estcourt retired from public life in 1863 after a paralytic seizure. He died on 6 January 1876, aged 74. His wife had died in 1870.

Family Sotheron-Estcourt married Lucy Sarah, daughter of Admiral Frank Sotheron, in 1830. In 1839, he assumed by Royal licence the surname of Sotheron in lieu of his patronymic in order to inherit his father-in-law's property. However, in 1853 he resumed by Royal licence the surname of Estcourt in addition to that of Sotheron.

Sotheron-Estcourt's estates passed to his nephew George Bucknall-Estcourt, who assumed the surname of Sotheron-Estcourt and was created Baron Estcourt in 1903.