Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson


Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson was a British politician and peer from the Anson family.

Background and career

Thomas Anson was born 14 February 1767, the first son of George Anson, of Shugborough and Mary Vernon, the daughter of George Venables Vernon. The family's surname was Adams until 1773, when his father inherited the Anson estates upon the death of his maternal uncles and his unmarried older brother, Thomas.
He was the brother of Mary Anson, who married Sir Francis Ford, 1st Baronet, in 1785. Thomas's brothers included army generals Sir George Anson and Sir William Anson.
He was educated at Eton College in 1779 and Oriel College, Oxford, in 1784.
, Thomas William Anson, Anne Margaret Anson, and George Anson, as Children, Shugborough Hall, National Trust
On his father's death in 1789, Thomas Anson succeeded him as member of parliament for Lichfield, which he represented until 17 February 1806, when he was succeeded by his brother, George. On leaving the House ofCommons on 17 February 1806, Anson was created Viscount Anson, of Shugborough and Orgrave, Co. Stafford, and Baron Soberton, of Soberton, Co. Southampton, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Marriage and children

On 15 September 1794, Anson married Lady Anne Coke, the daughter of the 1st Earl of Leicester of Holkham.
They had thirteen children:
He died on 31 July 1818. His papers and correspondence are held at the Staffordshire County Record Office of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service.