Sir Thomas Prendergast , d.s.p. MP for Chichester and Clonmel. Post master General of Ireland. Prendergast, Thomas Title(s): Sir Date: March, 1733 Political Office(s): Member of Parliament for Chichester, Appointed in March, 1733 Gentleman's Magazine, March, 1733
Privy Counsellor for Ireland, Appointed in July, 1733 Gentleman's Magazine, July, 1733 - Source: Ancestry.com In 1759, rumour of legislative union with Britain causes rioting in Dublin: the mob prepares a gallows to hang Chief Secretary Rigby, who is out of town and warned not to return, and takes over the Parliament House, installing an old woman on the throne in the House of Lords (3 December). Sir Thomas Prendergast (MP for Clonmel) is caught watching these events from the House of Lords, and is 'pulled forth by the nose, and rolled in the kennel' (15) Walpole, in his Memoires, vol. ii. p. 401, gives a particular account of these commotions. Gray, in a letter to Dr. Wharton, of the 23d of January, says, "They placed an old woman on the throne, and called for pipes and tobacco; made my Lord Chief Justice administer an oath (which they dictated) to my Lord Chancellor; beat the Bishop of Killaloe black and blue; at foot-ball with Chenevix, the old refugee Bishop of Waterford; rolled my Lord Farnham in the kennel; pulled Sir Thomas Prendergast by the nose (naturally large) till it was the size of a cauliflower-; and would have hanged Rigby if he had not got out of a window. At last the guard was obliged to move (with orders not to fire), but the mob threw dirt at them. then the horse broke in upon them, cutting and slashing, and took seventeen prisoners. The notion that had possessed the crowd was, that a union was to be voted between the two nations, and they should have no more parliaments there." Works, vol. iii. p. 233.-E. His nephew, John , succeeded him.
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