Thomas Sterne
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| Portrayed by James Purefoy | |
| Full Name | Thomas Edmund Sterne |
|---|---|
| Associated Noble House(s) | Earldom of Essex |
| Date of Birth | August 12th, 1784 |
| Father | Henry Sterne (deceased) |
| Father's Rank | Earl of Essex |
| Mother | Margaret Sterne née Bertram |
| Mother's Rank | Dowager Countess of Essex |
| Town Residence | Sterne House, 35 Brook Street |
| Branch of the Military | Infantry |
| Ship or Regiment | 47th Foot |
| Currently Enlisted? | Yes |
| Enlistment Date | 1804 |
| Current or Final Rank (if retired) | Captain |
| Major Engagements | Barrosa (1811) |
Thomas Sterne is the second son of the late Earl of Essex, Henry Sterne, and the Dowager Countess of Essex, Margaret Sterne. He has two siblings: Richard Sterne, the current Earl, and Lady Jane Middleton. Thomas is a Captain in the 47th Regiment of Foot.
An infamous libertine, he enjoys a hedonistic lifestyle, indulging himself in a variety of activities such as gambling, hunting, drinking and socializing. He can hardly refuse a challenge and due to decisions made in the height of passion and for the pleasure of the moment, he often finds himself in complicated situations, examples of which have been an elopement and a sudden engagement (which did not last long) so far.
Thomas is a former character played by Aida
Contents
Family
Wife: Rebecca Sterne née Garrison, Born 1783.
Daughter: Laura Arrington, Born 1805.
Father: Henry Sterne, 7th Earl of Essex, (1744-1793).
Mother: Margaret Sterne née Bertram, Dowager Countess of Essex, (1754-).
Brother: Richard Sterne, 8th Earl of Essex, (1773-).
Sister: Jane Middleton née Sterne, (1776-), married to Percival Middleton.
Niece: Rebecca Middleton, (1797-).
Nephew: Sebastian Middleton, (1799-).
Aunt: Gertrude Bertram, (1755-).
Aunt: Matilda Wriothesley née Bertram, Viscountess Delamere, (1756-), married to James Wriothesley.
Cousin: Helena Wriothesley, (1793-).
Half-grand-uncle: Alfred Sterne, Colonel, (1744-).
Background
Childhood & Adolescence (1784-1802)
Thomas' childhood was much influenced by his older brother being mentally challenged, leading to his receiving much more attention from his father than a younger son normally would. As Essex' favourite, Thomas was introduced by him to the finer delicacies of life, in turn striving to follow the Earl's footsteps by believing and living by his philosophies, even going so far as to improving them according to his own decadent experiences. As a child, he was considered to be very unruly, mischief succeeding him wherever he went. When in 1793 Essex passed away, he lost a great deal of his freedom. To save the family from bankruptcy, caused by the Earl's debts, his sister Jane married a wealthy merchant, and the nine year old Thomas was sent to live with his father's uncle: Colonel Sterne, whose efforts failed to discipline the boy. With the coming of adolescence, Thomas was sent to Eton, where he met some of his closest friends, including Richard Blackwood, his then - and still - partner in pranks. The Colonel's last effort to educate the boy before he came of age was to take him to Paris at the age of seventeen, in order to show him the way of world and presenting him with new experiences which would help him reach maturity. This Thomas did, but in a way completely different from what the Colonel had in mind, or indeed desired.
University Nights (1802-1804)
At the age of eighteen, Thomas attended the university of Oxford to study law. At the university, together with Blackwood and other newly acquired friends, such as Lord Gabriel Pritchard, they continued their merry feasting and revelry, now in a more immorally developed sense and through new adventures. It was during the second year of his studies when he met the Countess of Gloucester, whom he came to know more intimately as Theresa a month later. Their tastes and sentiments being pretty much similar, it did not take them long to form a liaison, which eventually lead to Thomas' dueling a fellow student and consequently being expelled from the university. Soon after, the couple decided to elope to France; however, they had hardly made it to Dover when by mutual consent - and much tension - they resolved to discard their plans.
Army Days (1804-1811)
On returning to London, Thomas enlisted in the army, much to the Colonel's delight, who agreed to buy him a lieutenant's commission. His regiment was soon deployed to Ireland, where he made the acquaintance the local nobility, including the family of Viscount Louisburgh, with whose son - Baron Bunowen - he became close friends and enjoyed many a rakish exploit. A few weeks before the Christmas of 1805, Thomas found out about his daughter with Theresa, and immediately set out to England to see her, leading to another short-term liaison with the Countess before returning to duty in Ireland. In 1807, Thomas travelled to Italy, where he met Lord Selwyn, a fellow Englishman, and his charming mistress Patrizia, as well as many other lovely ladies of different nationalities and bon-vivant dispositions. In this trip, his fondness of opera augmented, and he received some training in singing arias - especially duets - from a very able tutoress. The 47th regiment of foot was sent to the Peninsula in 1808, although it was not till 1811 that they begun participating in the war, allowing Thomas to go back to England in 1809 for the hunting season and a part of winter. In this trip, he made the acquaintance of Lady Beatrice Howard, the famous actress, in an unconventional manner during a tavern brawl. He also met and had a one-night affair with the charming Lady Tessington, before returning to Spain. In his first major battle, the battle of Barrosa, he received a minor injury and obtained a leave to go back to England, which he did in time to enjoy the festivities of the season.
Present Day (1811)
After returning to London, Thomas met Violet Edgerton, daughter to Baron Northumbria, with whom he began an affair upon whose discovery the couple were forced to become engaged. The engagement remained unannounced however, and a few days later, due to some mysterious reasons, the Edgertons returned to their county, bringing a conclusion to the engagement via a letter.
Although somewhat disconcerted, Thomas continued participating in many events, renewing acquaintances with individuals such as Miss Staunton, and making new ones with a Mrs. Clare among others, with whom he is looking forward to form a closer friendship, so to speak.
