Introduction
Thomas Taylour, 1st Earl of Bective KP, PC (Ire) (20 October 1724 – 14 February 1795) was an Irish peer and politician.
Background
He was the oldest son of Sir Thomas Taylor, 2nd Baronet and his wife Sarah Graham, daughter of John Graham. In 1757, Bective succeeded his father as baronet. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin.
Career
Bective entered the Irish House of Commons in 1747 and sat as Member of Parliament (MP) for Kells until 1760, when he was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Headfort, of Headfort, in the County of Meath. He was further honoured in 1762, he was made Viscount Headfort, of Headfort, in the County of Meath in 1762, and on 24 October 1766, he was finally advanced to the dignity of Earl of Bective, of Bective Castle, in the County of Meath. In 1783, Bective became a founding member of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick and in 1785 he was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland.
Family
On 4 July 1754, he married Jane Rowley, daughter of Hercules Langford Rowley and his wife Elizabeth Rowley, 1st Viscountess Langford. They had four daughters and six sons. Bective died aged 70 and was succeeded in his titles by his oldest son Thomas. His second son Hercules and his third son Robert represented both the same constituency as their father. The fourth son Clotworthy was ennobled in his own right as Baron Langford. His grandson General Sir Richard Taylor enjoyed a distinguished career in the army.