LAMB, Thomas Phillipps (?1752-1819), of Mountsfield Lodge, Rye, Suss.

By the middle of the 18th century Lamb’s family had acquired the leading position in the corporation of Rye and, after many years as government agents in the borough, had, with the aid of Crewe’s Act, established themselves as virtual patrons, although they continued to work in close collaboration with the Treasury. In 1790, his father considered it ‘proper for him to think of being returned, as soon as he can, and to get some friend to hold it for him till he is out of his mayoralty’, but nothing came of this notion.Som. RO, Dickinson mss DN 258, Lamb to Dickinson, 11 June 1790. His eventual election for Rye in 1812 may have been prompted by fears of the possible effects of Curwen’s Act, and in 1819 he was probably a stopgap.

The Liverpool ministry expected his support and received it in the divisions on the civil list, 8 May, the Regent’s expenditure, 31 May 1815, the army estimates, 6 Mar., and the property tax, 18 Mar. 1816. He voted against Catholic relief, 2 Mar., 11 and 24 May 1813. On 5 May 1819 he was granted three weeks’ sick leave,CJ, lxxiv. 398. which probably explains his absence from the division on Tierney’s censure motion, 18 May. He voted for the foreign enlistment bill, 10 June, and against the extension of the franchise at Penryn, 22 June 1819. He is not known to have spoken in the House. Lamb died 26 June 1819.