Thomas Darcy, 1st Earl Rivers (c. 1565 – 25 February 1640) was an English peer and courtier in the reigns of Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I.

He was the son of John Darcy, 2nd Baron Darcy of Chiche* and Frances Rich. His grandfather was Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Chiche*, a supporter of Lady Jane Grey.^[1] He succeeded to his father's title as 3rd Baron Darcy of Chiche* in March 1581. In 1613, he obtained a new grant of the Barony of Darcy of Chiche* with a special remainder, on the failure of his male issue, to his son-in-law, Sir Thomas Savage, and his heirs. He attended the courts of Elizabeth I and James I, and was created Viscount Colchester in the Peerage of England on 5 July 1621.^[2] During the reign of Charles I, Darcy was further honoured when he was made Earl Rivers on 4 November 1626.^[2] Both of these titles were created with the special remainder to Sir Thomas Savage and his heirs.^[3]

*Chiche was the old name for St Osyth, Essex.

Earl Rivers married Mary Kitson, a daughter of Sir Thomas Kitson, and by her had issue:^[4]

• Thomas Darcy (d. 1614). He was a page to Prince Henry and performed at the tournament Prince Henry's Barriers in January 1610.^[5][6]
• Elizabeth Darcy (1581–1651), married Thomas Savage, 1st Viscount Savage and had issue, including John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers^[7]
• Mary Darcy (d. 31 July 1627), married in 1615, Roger Manwood (1591–1623), without issue^[8]
• Penelope Darcy (d. 1661), a noted recusant, married firstly, 11 June 1610, as his second wife, Sir George Trenchard (c.1575–1610) of Wolveton,^[9] secondly, in 1611, Sir John Gage, 1st Baronet, by whom she had issue,^[10] and thirdly, Sir William Hervey in 1642^[11]
• Susan Darcy, died unmarried

The Earl died on 25 February 1640 at Winchester House, near Broad Street, London and was buried with his ancestors at St Osyth, Essex.^[2] He was succeeded in his titles, except for the original barony of Darcy of Chiche of 1581, by his grandson, John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers.^[2]

An inventory was made of the goods of Mary Countess-Dowager Rivers on 28 June 1644. The furnishings are listed in the rooms of an unnamed house, not St Osyth's Priory.^[12]

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• Historical Manuscripts Commission (1913). Report on the Manuscripts of Allan George Finch, Esq., of Burley-on-the-Hill, Rutland. Vol. 1. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office.
• Kyle, Chris (2010). "Savage, John (1603-1654), of Rock Savage, Cheshire". In Thrush, Andrew; Ferris, John P. (eds.). The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629. historyofparliamentonline.org.
• Moseley, Virginia C.D.; Thrush, Andrew (2010). "Manwood, Roger (1591-1623), of Hackington, Kent". In Thrush, Andrew; Ferris, John P. (eds.). The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629. historyofparliamentonline.org.
• Walter, John (3 January 2008). "Savage [née Darcy], Elizabeth, suo jure Countess Rivers". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/69349. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)