Thomas Austen
Thomas Austen (1775 – 23 July 1859) was a British soldier and politician.
He was the second cousin of Jane Austen, the novelist, and lived at Kippington Park, Sevenoaks. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge.[1]
As a soldier he fought in America with the 40th Foot regiment. He was made Aide Principale to the Viceroy of Ireland, leaving the army with the rank of colonel.
In 1823, he was appointed Sheriff of Kent and was Member of Parliament (MP) for West Kent from 1845 to 1847.[2]
He was an avid cricketer and played in the Duke of Dorset's team known as the "Gentlemen of Kent"
He married twice: firstly the rich heiress Margaretta Morland and secondly the young Caroline Catherine Manning. He had no children and his heir was a nephew, John Francis Austen.
References
- ^ "Austen, Thomas (ASTN793T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "K" (part 1)
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- 1775 births
- 1859 deaths
- British Army personnel of the Napoleonic Wars
- Alumni of St John's College, Cambridge
- 19th-century British people
- 40th Regiment of Foot officers
- High Sheriffs of Kent
- UK MPs 1841–47
- Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
- People from Sevenoaks
- UK MP for England stubs