MILLER, Sir Thomas (c.1635-1705), of North Street, Chichester, Suss.

From a local family of some standing, Miller inherited a sizable estate in Chichester and the surrounding area (including a residence in North Street), from his maternal uncle, and first sat for Chichester in 1689 as a moderate Tory. Returned again in 1690, Miller was classed by Lord Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†) as a Tory in his list of the new Parliament, and in December 1690 was noted by him as a possible supporter in anticipation of a Commons’ attack on his ministerial position. The next year, in Robert Harley’s* list of April 1691, he was classed as ‘doubtful’. Otherwise, he was an inactive Member, given leave of absence to recover his health four times in this Parliament (17 Dec. 1691, 24 Jan. 1693, 3 Jan. 1694, 27 Feb. 1695). He was summoned to the House on being found to be absent without leave on 2 Jan. 1693. In the 1693–4 session he successfully claimed breach of privilege when he was issued with a subpoena while acting in his capacity as a commissioner for the 4s. aid in Sussex. He did not stand again after 1695. Miller died on 2 Dec. 1705, aged 70, barely a month after being created a baronet, and was buried in the family vault in Chichester Cathedral.3 Suss. Arch. Colls. 140; VCH Suss. iii. 124; iv. 155, 213, 230; N. and Q. ser. 12, ix. 92.