STANLEY, Hon. Thomas (?1753-79).

In 1776 Stanley was returned unopposed for Lancashire. He supported Administration till 1778 when he went with his brother into opposition. On 4 Dec. 1778 he seconded an Opposition motion disavowing General Clinton’s proclamation for laying waste America; and on 10 Dec., complained of discrimination against the Manchester and Liverpool regiments: the inhabitants of those towns ‘had once put a confidence in Administration which they did not deserve; but they, as well as others, had at length their eyes opened’.Almon, xi. 122. Of his four other reported speeches two were on Lancashire affairs: on 19 Jan. 1779 when a bill was proposed to give further relief to Irish trade, Stanley asked for notice ‘that his constituents might early be apprized of it’; and on 15 Feb. 1779 when the subject was again raised, he moved to postpone discussion for six months.

In 1779 Stanley went with his regiment to Jamaica, and died there the same year. The exact date of his death is not known but the Gentleman’s Magazine printed his obituary in January 1780.