GODFREY, Thomas (1751-1810), of Brook Street House, nr. Sandwich, Kent.

Godfrey was described by Joshua Wilson in 1806 as having been ‘born and bred in the neighbourhood of Sandwich’, where ‘a portion of his estate is in hops, in which he has speculated to advantage’.Biog. Index (1806), 241. In 1798, he inherited property near Hythe, which he successfully contested on the independent interest against that of the corporation in 1802. He is not known to have opposed Addington’s ministry and was listed as a supporter of Pitt’s second administration in September 1804; but he voted for Whitbread’s censure of Melville, 8 Apr. 1805, and was classed ‘doubtful Sidmouth’ by the government in July. No vote for or against the ‘Talents’ is recorded, but he probably received their support at Hythe in 1806, by which time he had also secured the support of the corporation. He was returned after a contest, as he was again in 1807. His only known vote against the Portland government was on Hamilton’s motion concerning Castlereagh’s disposal of East India patronage, 25 Apr. 1809, and he voted with the Perceval ministry on the address, 23 Jan. 1810. He is not known to have spoken in the House. He died 7 Mar. 1810.