Colonel Thomas Myddelton Biddulph
(1809-1878)
21 February 1861

Volume 2, page 228, sitting number 2202.

At the time of his death in 1878, Colonel Sir Thomas Myddelton Biddulph was Keeper of the Privy Purse and Master of the Queen's Household. He died on 28 September 1878 at Abergeldie Mains and was buried in the churchyard of St Andrew's Church, Clewer, near Windsor in Berkshire.

'General the Right Hon. Sir Thomas Myddleton [sic] Biddulph, K.C.B., Keeper of the Queen's Privy Purse, died on Saturday at Balmoral, after a few day's illness from inflammation of the lungs and bronchitis. The deceased gentleman, who was born in 1809, entered the army as cornet in the 1st Life Guards in 1826, and served in the regiment till his promotion to lieutenant-colonel in October, 1851, when he went on half-pay. On the retirment of Sir George Bowles he was appointed master of the Queen's Household and Extra Equerry to her Majesty. He was afterwards appointed Receiver-General of the Duchy of Cornwall, and one of the joint Keepers of the Queen's Privy Purse in 1867, when that office was limited to one official. In 1863 he was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath for his civil services, and he was recently made a member of her Majesty's Privy Council. Sir Thomas married in 1857, the Hon. Mary Frederica C. W. Seymour (only daughter of Mr Frederick C. W. Seymour), who is an honourary Bedchamber Woman to her Majesty, and Lady in Attendance on Princess Beatrice. He became general in October last on the promotions consequent on the new army scheme. Her Majesty called daily at Abergeldie House during the illness of Sir Thomas, and on receiving intelligence of the death, at once proceeded to the house, to be with Lady Biddulph in her bereavement' (Reading Mercury, 5 October 1878). 

[From an album compiled by Elizabeth Van de Weyer, the American wife of Jean Sylvain Van de Weyer, Belgian ambassador to the Court of St James.]