Thomas Whetham

Thomas Whetham (c. 1665 – 28 April 1741) was an English soldier and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1722 and 1727. Family and early life Whetham was born circa 1665, the first son of the barrister Nathaniel Whetham, of the Inner Temple. His grandfather was Colonel Nathaniel Whetham, who had served in the parliamentary army during the English Civil War. Thomas Whetham's mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Adrian Scrope of Wormsley, Oxfordshire (now Wormsley Park, Buckinghamshire). His father died in 1667, and he went on to enter military service, joining the 1st Foot as an ensign in 1685. Military and political career He transferred to Sir James Lesley's Regiment of Foot in 1694 with the rank of captain lieutenant, and was promoted to captain later that year. He was serving with the 11th Foot as major sometime prior to 1700, and was then with the 27th Foot with the rank of colonel between 1702 and 1705. He was promoted to brigadier-general in 1707. He became Commander-in-Chief, Canada, in 1709, was promoted to major-general in 1710 and was then appointed Commander-in-Chief, Scotland, in 1712. His service had taken him to Scotland, the West Indies and Spain by this stage.