Samuel Thornton (MP)
Samuel Thornton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | July 3, 1838 (aged 83) |
| Occupation(s) | Merchant, banker, politician |
| Years active | 1784–1812 |
| Known for | Governor of the Bank of England (1799–1801), Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull and Surrey |
Samuel Thornton (6 November 1754 – 3 July 1838) was the son of John Thornton, a notable merchant engaged in commerce across Russia and the Baltic region. His tenure as a director of the Bank of England spanned 53 years, during which he held the position of Governor from 1799 until 1801, following his service as Deputy Governor. In addition, he represented Kingston upon Hull in Parliament alongside William Wilberforce from 1784 to 1806, and subsequently served as an MP for Surrey between 1807 and 1812. Thornton was actively involved in the parliamentary committee dedicated to the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts.
While serving as an MP for Kingston, he appears in Karl Anton Hickel’s group painting titled "William Pitt addressing the House of Commons on the French Declaration of War, 1793," which is exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery.
In 1800, Thornton acquired Albury Park, located in Surrey, where he lived until 1811. He engaged architect Sir John Soane to carry out improvements on the estate. Early in the nineteenth century, he also developed residential properties on Weston Street near Albury to accommodate villagers who had been relocated due to agricultural modernization.
Thornton’s siblings, Henry Thornton and Robert Thornton, were similarly prominent MPs. The three brothers were members of the Clapham Sect and resided in neighboring houses within Clapham.