NOEL, Thomas (c.1704-88), of Exton, Rutland and Walcot, Northants.

Noel was returned for Rutland as a Whig in 1728 at a by-election caused by the death of his brother John, voting with the Administration on the civil list arrears in 1729 and the repeal of the Septennial Act in 1734, but against them on the excise bill in 1733. Re-elected unopposed with his cousin James Noel in 1734, he voted against the Administration, except on the motion for the dismissal of Walpole in February 1741, which he opposed. He did not stand at the general election of that year on being faced with the candidature of John Finch, whose family had previously supported him,Ld. Gainsborough to Ld. Winchilsea, 24 Apr. 1741, Finch mss at HMC. but he was again returned in 1753 after the death of James Noel. The first master of the Cottesmore Hunt, and an authority on hound breeding, publishing the first book on the subject in 1732,VCH Rutland, i. 301, 305. he died 18 June 1788, aged 83.