Thomas Temple

Who was Thomas Temple?

Sir Thomas Temple, 1st Baronet was a British proprietor, governor of Acadia/ Nova Scotia. In 1662, he was appointed a Baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles II.

He was the second son of Sir John Temple of Stanton Bury and his first wife Dorothy, daughter of Edmund Lee, and a grandson of Sir Thomas Temple, 1st Baronet, of Stowe. According to a pedigree compiled in the 17th century, Sir Thomas was a descendent of the renowned Lady Godiva of Coventry, however this descent was debunked by E. A. Freeman in the 19th century. Sir Thomas Temple was the great nephew of Lord Saye and Sele. Temple's cousins, Nathaniel Fiennes and John Fiennes were prominent supporter of parliament in the Civil War and members of Cromwell's Council of State. Both were appointed to Cromwell's House of Lords.