Thomas William Coke, earl of Leicester of Holkham, an English agriculturist, born May 4, 1752, died June 30, 1842. He was regarded, after the death of the duke of Bedford, as the first agriculturist in the kingdom. His estate of Holkham, in Norfolk, the rental of which he raised in the period of some 60 years that it was in his possession from £2,000 to above £20,000, was the pride of the county. His annual sheep shearing, at which he entertained hundreds of guests for several days, was reckoned the greatest agricultural festival in the world. His methods of cultivation were based upon scientific principles. He introduced choice breeds of cattle and the rotation of crops, and recommended the extensive planting of turnips. He represented the county of Norfolk in parliament, with a brief interval, from 1776 to 1832. An intense hatred of tory-ism constituted almost the whole of his political system, but he spoke little except when agricultural measures were before the house. In 1837 he was created earl of Leicester of Holkham. Sixty years before he had been twice offered a peerage; but he refused to accept anything but the earldom of Leicester, which had been held by his maternal great-uncle, whose estates he inherited, but not his title, which had meantime been given to another person.

As this earldom was still held by Marquis Townshend, the title was varied for Mr. Coke by the addition of the name of his own estate.