Thomas Knight (MP for Canterbury)

Thomas Knight (ca. 1701 – 26 February 1781) previously Thomas Brodnax (1701–1726) and Thomas May (1727–1738) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1734 to 1741. Knight was the son of William Brodnax of Godmersham, Kent and his wife Anne May and was educated at Balliol College, Oxford. In 1726, he changed his name by a 1726 Act of Parliament to May on inheriting May estates at Rawmere.^[1][2] In 1732 he rebuilt his seat at Godmersham.^[3] He served as Sheriff of Kent for 1729.^[4] He also inherited Chawton Park.

MP for Canterbury

As May, he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Canterbury in 1734, and held the seat until 1741.^[5] In 1738, he changed his name by Act of Parliament to Knight after inheriting estates under the will of Elizabeth Knight, widow of Bulstrode Peachy Knight (who was her second husband, her first being William Knight of Dean). In 1742 he enclosed a park round his seat at Godmersham.^[3]

Death

Knight died at Godmersham in 1781, "a gentleman, whose eminent worth is still remembered by many now living; whose high character for upright conduct and integrity, rendered his life as honorable as it was good, and caused his death to be lamented by every one as a public loss".^[3]

Family

May married Jane Monke, daughter of William Monke of Shoreham^[1] at Grey's Inn Chape on 11 July 1729. Their son Thomas inherited the estate and was later MP for Kent.

References

1. William Berry County genealogies: Pedigrees of the families in the county of Sussex
2. Deed Poll Office: Private Act of Parliament 1726 (13 Geo. 1). c. 4
3. Parishes: Godmersham, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 7 (1798), pp. 319-332. Date accessed: 24 November 2010
4. Chawton Manor and its owners; a family history. p. 145.
5. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 2)