Sir Thomas Gladstone
(1804-1889)
31 May 1861

Volume 3, page 342, sitting number 4050.

Sir Thomas Gladstone, 2nd Baronet Gladstone of Fasque, was a Tory (later Conservative) politician. His younger brother was the Liberal Prime Minister William Gladstone.

Born in Liverpool on 25 July 1804, he was the eldest son (and second child) of the wealthy Scottish-born businessman and plantation owner John Gladstone (born Gladstones) and his second wife Anne MacKenzie Robertson. 

Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, Sir Thomas Gladstone was Member of Parliament for Queenborough from 1830 to 1831, for Portarlington from 1832 to 1835, for Leicester from 1835 to 1837, and (briefly) for Ipswich in 1842. According to UCL's website detailing the 'Legacies of British Slave-ownership,' in Parliament Thomas 'showed himself sympathetic to the West India lobby and provided his father with regular intelligence regarding the political manoeuvrings of abolitionists.'

He was Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire from 1876 until his death.

He died on 20 March 1889 at Fasque House near Lawrencekirk in Kincardineshire. 

'We regret to announce the death of Sir Thomas Gladstone, Bart., which occurred at his residence, Fasque House, Kincardineshire, at four o'clock on Wednesday morning. The deceased baronet, who was a brother of the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, ex-Premier, to whom he bore a somewhat remarkable physical resemblance, was born in Liverpool July 25, 1804, and succeeded his father, Sir John Galdstone, the first baronet, in 1851. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1827. He was also an honorary D.C.L. of the same University. Like his illustrious brother he entered Parliament at an early age, having been returned in the Conservative interest for Queenborough in Kent in 1830. He subsequently sat for Portarlington, 1832-5; Leicester, 1835-7; and Ipswich, 1842. Being unseated on petition against his return for the last mentioned borough, he retired into private life. Twenty-three years later, however, he emerged from his privacy to contest Kincardineshire, but was defeated, and again returned to his estates. He took a great interest in the affairs of his county, and was a typical Scotch laird. Though all his life long an uncompromising Tory, he was on the most affectionate terms with his brother, who frequently visited him at Fasque House. He is succeeded in the title and his estates by his only son, John Robert Gladstone, a captain in the Coldstream Guards. His widow and a daughter also survive him. The first baronet assumed by royal license the name of Gladstone, in lieu of his patronymic Gladstones. The Press Association understands that in consequence of the death of Sir Thomas Gladstone, Mr Gladstone will take no part in the resumed discussion on the Vote on Account. The right hon. gentleman will attend the funeral, which is expected to take place either on Saturday or Monday' (Kirkintilloch Herald, 27 March 1889).