Thomas Southwell, 1st Viscount Southwell

Thomas George Southwell, 1st Viscount Southwell (4 May 1721 – 29 August 1780) was a British Army officer and politician who served as the governor of Limerick from 1762 to 1780.

Background He was the oldest son of Thomas Southwell, 2nd Baron Southwell and his wife Mary Coke, eldest daughter of Thomas Coke. He was commissioned an ensign in the 2nd Regiment of Foot Guards on 1 May 1738, retiring from the Army in November 1741. Between 1753 and 1757, Southwell was Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.

Career In 1747, Southwell entered the Irish House of Commons for Enniscorthy, sitting for it until 1761. until 1766, when he succeeded his father as baron. Three years later, Southwell delivered his maiden speech in the Irish House of Lords. He was appointed Constable of Limerick Castle in 1750 and Governor of County Limerick in 1762, posts he held until his death in 1780.

Family On 18 June 1741, he married Margaret Hamilton, daughter of Arthur Cecil Hamilton of Castle Hamilton, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan and had by her three sons, Thomas (died young), Thomas Southwell, 2nd Viscount Southwell, and Robert, and a daughter, Lucia.

Southwell died, aged 59 and was buried at Rathkeale. while his younger son, Robert, also sat in the Parliament of Ireland.