Sir Thomas Gascoigne Eight Baronet

This text was inspired by a list of selected customers from the Old Snuff House of Fribourgh and Treyer, at the Rasp and Crown, No. 34 St-James Haymarket, London, S.W (1720-1920).

Sir Thomas Gascoigne, 8th Baronet (1745-1810) was a British politician and landowner. He was born on April 4, 1745, in Parlington, Yorkshire, England, to Sir Thomas Gascoigne, 7th Baronet, and his wife, Elizabeth Copley.

Gascoigne was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and entered the House of Commons in 1774 as the Member of Parliament for Beverley. He served in the House of Commons until 1796 and was a strong supporter of the Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger. He was known for his speeches on agricultural issues and was a supporter of the Enclosure Acts.

In addition to his political career, Gascoigne was a prominent landowner in Yorkshire. He inherited the family estate at Parlington Hall in 1766, and he made extensive improvements to the estate, including building a new house and landscaping the gardens. He was also a keen horse breeder and owned several successful racehorses.

Sir Thomas Gascoigne, 8th Baronet, was known for his contributions to agriculture, particularly for his support of the Enclosure Acts in Parliament. The Enclosure Acts were a series of laws passed in the 18th and 19th centuries in England that allowed for the consolidation and privatization of common land, which was previously held in common by the community.

Gascoigne believed that the Enclosure Acts would lead to more efficient and productive farming practices by allowing landowners to consolidate their land holdings and implement new agricultural techniques. He was a vocal advocate for the Enclosure Acts and spoke frequently in Parliament in support of the legislation.

In addition to his political contributions, Gascoigne also made significant improvements to his family's estate at Parlington Hall. He built a new house and landscaped the gardens, creating a beautiful and productive agricultural estate that was renowned in Yorkshire.

Overall, Sir Thomas Gascoigne's major achievement was his contribution to the development of agriculture in England through his support of the Enclosure Acts and his innovative farming practices at Parlington Hall.