Thomas Lister (8 October 1688 – 15 May 1745), of Gisburne Park, Yorkshire, was a British landowner and Tory politician who represented Clitheroe in the House of Commons from 1713 to 1745.
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Early life and education
Lister was born in October 1688, the eldest son of Thomas Lister of Arnoldsbigging and Westby Hall, Yorkshire and his wife Elizabeth Parker, daughter of John Parker of Entwistle, Lancashire. He was educated at Eton College from 1698 to 1706 and matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford on 1 February 1706, aged 17, although he claimed to have learnt very little in two and a half years there. He succeeded his father in 1706. In 1709, he was admitted at Middle Temple.
Career
Lister's family held an electoral interest at Clitheroe, having owned property there since the 14th century. When he stood at a by-election on 23 April 1713, he was described as a ‘very puisne young gentleman’, as well as being ‘honest’. After being returned as Member of Parliament for Clitheroe in 1713, he made little impact in Parliament. He was classed as a Tory but in spite of Tory leanings, he voted on 18 June 1713 against the French commerce bill.
At the 1715 general election, Lister was elected MP for Clitheroe again in a contest. He improved his local interest by his marriage in 1716, and after he was elected in a contest at the 1722 general election he was able to turn this into control of one seat. He consistently voted against the Government, and spoke on 7 May 1728 against a vote of credit.