Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester (1756-1826), known before 1805 as Lord Pelham, son of the 1st earl, was surveyor-general of ordnance in Lord Rockingham's 2nd ministry (1782), and Chief Secretary for Ireland in the coalition ministry of 1783. In 1795 he became Irish chief secretary under Pitt's government, retiring in 1798; he was Home Secretary from July 1801 to August 1803 under Addington, who made him Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in 1803. Pelham went out of office in 1804, and in the next year succeeded to the earldom. He was joint Postmaster-General from 1807 to 1823, and for the remaining three years of his life Postmaster-General.