Egerton, Thomas, 1st Earl of Wilton (1749 -1814)

Sir Thomas Egerton, 7th Baronet, was the second but eldest surviving son of Sir Thomas Grey Egerton, 6th Baronet, of Heaton in Lancashire, and Farthingoe in Northamptonshire, and Catherine, daughter and coheir of the Reverend John Copley, of Batley in Yorkshire. He succeeded his father in 1756,. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where he matriculated 11 February 1767, aged 17, and was created an M.A. 14 February 1769. He married Eleanor, 12 September 1769, the youngest daughter and coheir of Sir Ralph Assheton, Baronet of Middleton, by whom he had two sons and three daughters of whom one daughter only, Eleanor, wife of Robert, Earl Grosvenor, survived into adulthood. Member of Parliament for Lancashire from 1772 1784 and Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Lancashire Regiment of Volunteer Fencibles which he raised himself. Sir Thomas was created 15 May 1784, Baron Grey de Wilton, and on the 26 June 1801 Earl of Wilton, with reversion in default of male issue to Thomas second son of his daughter Eleanor Countess Grosvenor.