Sir Thomas Hele, 1st Baronet

Sir Thomas Hele, 1st Baronet (c. 1595 – November 1670) of Flete in the parish of Holbeton in Devon, was three times elected a Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle, in 1626, 1628-9 and 1640 and once for Okehampton, in 1661-70. He was a Royalist commander during the Civil War. He was created a baronet in 1627.

Hele was the eldest son and heir of Thomas Hele (died 1624) of Flete by his wife Bridget Champernowne, 4th daughter of Sir Henry Champernowne (1538–1570) of Modbury, Devon.

In 1626 Hele was elected Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle. He was created Baronet of Fleet in the County of Devon in the Baronetage of England on 28 May 1627. In 1628 he was re-elected MP for Plympton Earl and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. He was Sheriff of Devon for 1636.

Hele was re-elected for Plympton in April 1640 for the Short Parliament in what appears to be a double return. In November 1640, his place was taken by Michael Oldisworth, but as Oldisworth chose to take up a seat at Salisbury, Hele was returned for the Long Parliament. Hele joined the King at Oxford in 1643 and was therefore disabled from sitting in parliament in January 1644. He was one of the chief commanders of the King's army and took part in the Siege of Plymouth and the defence of Pendennis Castle. He was fined for his actions against parliament at £280 per annum. In 1661 Hele was elected MP for Okehampton in the Cavalier Parliament and held the seat until his death in 1670.

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