Thomas Foley (auditor of the imprests)

Thomas Foley (c.1670 – 10 December 1737) held the sinecure office of auditor of the imprests. He was the eldest son of Paul Foley, Speaker of the House of Commons and ironmaster, and succeeded to his estates around Stoke Edith, Herefordshire on his father's death in 1699.

Thomas Foley was Member of Parliament for Hereford from 1700 to 1722 and for Stafford from 1722 to 1727 and again from 1734 until his death. Throughout this period, he was the leading ironmaster in the Forest of Dean. Initially this business was managed by John Wheeler and then by William Rea, until Rea was sacked in 1725. From that time the number of ironworks operated by his business, latterly without outside partners gradually declined.

He and his wife Anne, daughter and heir of Essex Knightley of Fawsley, Northamptonshire had one son Thomas Foley (c 1695-1749), and two daughters, Anne and Mary.

References

• Burke's Peerage

• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages

Political offices
Preceded by Edward Harley Arthur Mainwaring	Auditor of the imprests 1713–1737 With: Edward Harley William Benson	Succeeded by William Benson William Aislabie
Parliament of England
Preceded by Robert Price John Birch	Member of Parliament for Weobley 1691–1701 With: Robert Price	Succeeded by Henry Cornewall John Birch
Preceded by James Brydges Samuel Pytts	Member of Parliament for Hereford 1701–1707 With: James Brydges	Succeeded by Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Parliament of England	Member of Parliament for Hereford 1707–1722 With: James Brydges 1707–1714 The Viscount Scudamore 1715–1716 Herbert Rudhale Westfaling 1717–1722	Succeeded by Herbert Rudhale Westfaling William Mayo
Preceded by The 1st Viscount Chetwynd William Chetwynd	Member of Parliament for Stafford 1722–1727 With: John Dolphin 1722–1724 Francis Elde 1724–1725 The 1st Viscount Chetwynd 1725–1727	Succeeded by The 1st Viscount Chetwynd Joseph Gascoigne Nightingale
Preceded by The 1st Viscount Chetwynd Joseph Gascoigne Nightingale	Member of Parliament for Stafford 1734–1737 With: William Chetwynd	Succeeded by William Chetwynd The 2nd Viscount Chetwynd