Sir Thomas Skipwith, 2nd Baronet (ca. 1652 – 15 June 1710) was a Member of Parliament, and theatrical manager in London in the late 17th and early 18th century.
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Family
Skipwith was the son of Sir Thomas Skipwith, 1st Baronet and his wife Elizabeth Lathom daughter of Ralph Lathom of Upminster, Essex.
He married Margaret, daughter of George Brydges, 6th Baron Chandos, after being admitted to Gray's Inn on 5 August 1670. Margaret was the most senior descendant of Anne Stanley, Countess of Castlehaven, who was a descendant in turn of Mary Tudor, Queen of France. If the will of Henry VIII, and invalidity of Lady Katherine Grey’s marriage was to be believed, upon Margaret’s death, Sir Thomas’ son and heir, George, would theoretically be the King of England.
Career
After a brief military career, Skipwith was elected a Member of Parliament for Malmsbury in 1696.
On 31 March 1682, Dame Mary Davenant, widow of Sir William Davenant, sold Skipwith a half share in the Duke's Company. He later formed a partnership with his late father's clerk, Christopher Rich, to manage the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. During this time the theatre ceased performing serious dramatic works in favour of lighter entertainments, leading the noted actor Thomas Betterton to petition the Lord Chamberlain in protest.