THOMAS (c. 1654-1720)  , only son of the last named, succeeded his grandfather as 2nd earl of Stamford . He took some part in resisting the arbitrary actions of Charles II., and was arrested in July 1685; then after his release he took up arms on behalf of William of Orange, after whose accession to the throne he was made a. privy councillor and lord-lieutenant of Devonshire . In 1697 he became chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, and in 1699 president of the board of trade, being dismissed from his office on the accession of Anne in 1702 . From 1707 to 1711, however, he was again president of the board of trade . On his death without children on the 31st of January 1720 his titles passed to his cousin HENRY (d . 1739), a grandson of the first earl, from whom the later earls were descended .