Thomas Alcock

Who was Thomas Alcock?

Thomas Alcock was a British politician.

Thomas Alcock was born in Putney,the son of Joseph Alcock of Roehampton. He was educated at Harrow and served briefly in the 1st Dragoon Guards. In 1828-9 he travelled in Russia, Turkey, Persia and Greece, and later had an account of his travels privately printed.

He was Member of Parliament (MP) for the rotten borough of Newton between 1826 and 1830, and after the Great Reform Act, sat for Ludlow from 1839 to 1840, and for East Surrey 1847–1865. He was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey for 1837.

Alcock was politically progressive and in favour of extending the franchise. He spent more than £40,000 on building churches, parsonages and schools, and the endowment of churches, in Surrey and Lincolnshire. He was a strong advocate for the preservation of commons and open spaces for the use and recreation of the public, and published a pamphlet on the subject in 1845.

He was also responsible for extensively remodelling the mansion of Kingswood Warren in Surrey, to the designs of the architect T.R. Knowles.