Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont

Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont (9 March 1815 – 29 July 1887) of Ravensdale Park in County Louth, Ireland, was an Irish Whig politician and was the historian of the ancient Fortescue family of 12th century Devonshire origins.

He was born on 9 March 1815, the son of Chichester Fortescue (1777–1826) of Dromisken, County Louth, Ireland, by his wife Martha Angel Hobson, a daughter of Samuel Meade Hobson of Muchridge House, County Cork, Ireland, a barrister.

In 1833 he inherited Ravensdale Park, County Louth, upon the death of Sir Henry James Goodricke, 7th Baronet, son of Sir Henry Goodricke, 6th Baronet by his wife Charlotte Fortescue, sister of the 1st Earl of Clermont.

The peerage was created with special remainder to his younger brother Chichester Fortescue.

He produced a Supplement in 1885 containing new information following his discovery of two 13th-century Fortescue charters in Eton College library.

Arms of Fortescue: Azure, a bend engrailed argent, plain cotised or
Inscriptions in 1878 stained glass window in Buckland Filleigh Church, Devon, erected jointly by Thomas Fortescue and his younger brother Chichester