Thynne, Thomas, 1st Viscount Weymouth (1640 -1714)

Thomas Thynne was the son of Sir Henry Frederick Thynne of Caus Castle, Shropshire and Kempsford, Gloucestershire, and Mary, daughter of Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry of Aylesborough. He was educated at Kingston Grammar School and entered Christ Church, Oxford on 21 April 1657. He married Frances, daughter of Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Winchilsea. In 1664 he was invested as a Fellow of the Royal Society, and held the office of Envoy to Sweden between November 1666 and April 1669. He succeeded to the title of 2nd Baronet Thynne, of Kempsford on 6 March 1679, and on 11 December 1682 was elevated to 1st Viscount Weymouth. On 13 December 1688 he carried an invitation to the Prince of Orange at Henley on Thames, along with the Earl of Pembroke, after the flight of King James II. He started the house's large book collection. Formal gardens, canals, fountains and parterres were created by George London with sculptures by Arnold Quellin and Chevalier David. The Best Gallery, Long Gallery, Old Library and Chapel were all added by Wren.