Wentworth, Thomas, 1st Earl of Strafford (1593 -1641)

Thomas Wentworth was the eldest son of Sir William Wentworth, 1st Baronet, of Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire, and Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Atkinson, of Stowell in Gloucestershire. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, where he became a Fellow Commoner at Easter 1609, and the Inner Temple, where he was admitted November 1607. He married, 22 October 1611, Margaret, eldest daughter of Francis Clifford, 4th Earl of Cumberland. She died without issue in 1622. He was knighted 6 December 1611. He was Member of Parliament for Yorkshire 1614 1621, and for Pontefract in 1624. He succeeded his father as 2nd Baronet in 1614. He married again, 24 February 1625, Arabella Holles, second daughter of John Holles, first Earl of Clare. In 1625 he was elected for Yorkshire, and though he was unseated on petition he was re-elected on 1st August of that year. He was created Baron Wentworth 22 July 1628, Viscount Wentworth on the 13th December, and President of the Council of the North on 25th December. In October 1631 he lost his second wife, and in October 1632 married his third wife Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Godfrey Rodes. He was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland 12 January 1632. On 12 January 1640 he was created Baron of Raby and Earl of Strafford, and shortly afterwards raised to be Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and a Knight of the Garter. Swayed by his enemies, the House of Lords passed a Bill of attainder, and on 8 May 1641 it passed its third reading. Charles I did nothing effectual in Strafford's favour, and he was executed on the 12th May 1641. His son William was restored to the title and died without issue in 1690.