Samuel Thornton | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1754-11-06)6 November 1754 |
| Died | 3 July 1838(1838-07-03) (aged 83) Brighton[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Politician,abolitionist andGovernor of the Bank of England |
| Children | Sophia Thornton who marriedJohn Leslie-Melville, 9th Earl of Leven |
| Parent(s) | John Thornton (father) Lucy Watson (mother) |
| Relatives | Robert Thornton (brother) Henry Thornton (brother) |
Samuel Thornton (6 November 1754 – 3 July 1838) was one of the sons ofJohn Thornton, a leading merchant in theRussian andBaltic trade, and was a director of theBank of England for 53 years[2][1][3] andGovernor (1799–1801). He had earlier served as itsDeputy Governor.[4] He wasMember of Parliament (MP) forKingston upon Hull (withWilliam Wilberforce in 1784) from 1784 to 1806 and forSurrey from 1807 to 1812. He and was a member of theCommittee for the repeal of theTest andCorporation Acts.
As MP for Kingston he was painted byKarl Anton Hickel in the group portrait "William Pitt addressing the House of Commons on the French Declaration of War, 1793" which still hangs at theNational Portrait Gallery.[5]
He boughtAlbury Park,Albury,Surrey in 1800, and lived there until 1811. He employed the architect SirJohn Soane[6] to improve the property.
During the early 19th century Thornton built housing in the hamlet of Weston Street, a mile to the west of Albury, for the resettlement of villagers removed from cottages in Albury Park, as part of theagricultural improvements.
His brothersHenry Thornton and Robert Thornton were also notable men of their time and MPs.[1] all three were members of theClapham Sect and lived in adjoining houses inClapham.[7]
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forKingston upon Hull 1784–1800 With:William Wilberforce to 1784 Walter Spencer Stanhope 1784–1790 Earl of Burford 1790–1796 Sir Charles Turner from 1796 | Succeeded by Parliament of the United Kingdom |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by Parliament of Great Britain | Member of Parliament forKingston upon Hull 1801–1806 With:Sir Charles Turner to 1802 John Staniforth from 1802 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forSurrey 1807–1812 With:George Holme Sumner | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forSurrey 1807–1812 With:George Holme Sumner | Succeeded by |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of the Bank of England 1799–1801 | Succeeded by |
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