Thomas Coke (privy counsellor)

Although a Tory on paper, he was prepared to support the Whigs in order to keep hold of his public offices.

Coke lost his parents when under age and was educated abroad under Monsieur Chauvais of Rotterdam in 1688.

Around June 1698 he married Lady Mary Stanhope daughter of Philip Earl of Chesterfield (with £8,000) at Repton.

In December 1706, he exchanged offices with Peregrine Bertie to obtain a court place as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, a position he held for the rest of his life.

He was more comfortable in maintaining a Tory stance in this Parliament and was listed as one of the ‘worthy patriots’ who detected the mismanagements of the late ministry.

[2] He was one of the original backers of the Royal Academy of Music, establishing a London opera company which commissioned numerous works from Handel, Bononcini and others.