Thomas Widdrington

Sir Thomas Widdrington SL (died 13 May 1664) was an English politician and judge of the 17th century.

He and his brother Ralph were of a junior branch of an ancient Northumbrian family and were distantly related to William Widdrington, 1st Baron Widdrington. He was the son of Lewis Widdrington of Cheeseburn Grange, near Stamfordham, Northumberland.

Widdrington was knighted at York in 1639, and in 1640 he became Member of Parliament for Berwick. He was already a barrister, and his legal knowledge was very useful during the English Civil War. In 1651 he was chosen a member of the Council of State, although he had declined to have any share in the trial of the king.

Widdrington was elected Speaker in September 1656, and in June 1658, he was appointed Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. In 1659 and again in 1660, he was a member of the Council of State, and on three occasions he was one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal, but he lost some of his offices when Charles II was restored. However, he remained in Parliament until his death. He married Frances, a daughter of Ferdinando Fairfax, 2nd Lord Fairfax of Cameron. He left four daughters, but no sons. The estate at Cheeseburn Grange passed firstly to his brother Henry and then to his brother Ralph.

Widdrington, who founded a school at Stamfordham, Northumberland, wrote "Analecta Eboracensia; some Remaynes of the city of York". This was not published until 1877, when it was edited with introduction and notes by the Rev. Caesar Caine.

References

*1911|article=Widdrington, Barons