Thomas Anson, 2nd Earl of Lichfield


Thomas George Anson, 2nd Earl of Lichfield, known as Viscount Anson from 1831 to 1854, was a British politician from the Anson family.

Early life

Lichfield was the eldest of four sons and four daughters born to Thomas Anson, 1st Earl of Lichfield, and his wife Louisa Catherine. Among his siblings was Augustus Anson, a soldier who received the Victoria Cross, and Adelbert John Robert Anson, a clergyman who served as Bishop of Qu'Apelle in Canada.
His paternal grandparents were Thomas Anson, 1st Viscount Anson, and his wife Anne Margaret, daughter of Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester. His paternal uncle was Major-General the Hon. George Anson. His maternal grandfather was Nathaniel Philips.
He was educated at Eton College, in Windsor, England.

Career

Between 1846 and 1847, Viscount Anson was with the Foreign Office. He was returned to Parliament for Lichfield in 1847, a seat he held until 1854, when he succeeded his father in the earldom and took his seat in the House of Lords. He also succeeded as the 3rd Baron Soberton and the 4th Viscount Anson.
From 1863 to 1871, he also served as Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire.
His seat was Shugborough Hall. In 1876, his Staffordshire estates amounted to 21,433 acres.

Personal life

On 10 April 1855, Lord Lichfield married Lady Harriett Georgiana Louisa, daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn and Louisa Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn. Together, they were the parents of nine sons and four daughters:
Lord Lichfield died in January 1892, aged 66, and was buried at St Stephen's Church in Great Haywood. He was succeeded as Earl of Lichfield by his eldest son Thomas. Lady Lichfield died in 1913.