Conolly, Thomas (1738 -1803)

Thomas Conolly of Castletown, County Kildare was the only son of William Conolly, M.P. for Ballyshannon, and Anne Wentworth, daughter of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford of the second creation. He was educated at Westminster School, succeeded his father in 1754, and married, 30 December 1758, Lady Louisa Lennox, third daughter of Charles 2nd Duke of Richmond. In 1759 he was elected a Member of the English Parliament for Malmesbury, and in 1761 for County Londonderry in the Irish Parliament. He held the former seat until 1768, and was Member for Chichester from 1768 80, and County Londonderry until 1800, resigning just before the Union. He showed little political ability in either house, but had considerable influence in Ireland. He was lord of the treasury and a commissioner of trade in Ireland, a member of the Irish Privy Council and Lord Lieutenant of Londonderry. He supported the Union, though it extinguished his own influence, and retired from politics immediately afterwards. He left no issue; his widow survived him some years and had a life interest in the property. After her death, it went to a great nephew, Edward Michael Packenham, who assumed the name and arms of Conolly.