Histories

1754 Abingdon constituency (unelected)

In the spring of 1754, Henry Thrale stood for election to Parliament in Abingdon but was beaten by John Morton.

1760 Southwark constituency (withdrew)

In 1760, two years after the death of his father, William Belcher, one of the incumbent Members of Parliament in Southwark decided not to seek re-election. This prompted Henry Thrale to write to the Prime Minister, the Duke of Newcastle on 21 December soliciting support for his candidacy. Newcastle duly obliged. However, Thrale later withdrew from the race after becoming aware of the strength of the opposition.

1761 St Albans constituency (withdrew)

During 1761 Henry Thrale considered standing for the constituency of St Albans and had assurances at an early stage of 25 votes. He decided not to stand for election.

1765 Southwark constituency (elected)

On 16 September 1765, one of the incumbent Members of Parliament for Southwark, Alexander Hume, died. Henry announced his running four days before his second child, Frances Thrale was born. On 28 October 1765 Henry Thrale was elected after opponent George Durant withdrew.

1768 Southwark constituency (elected)

Early in 1768 parliament was dissolved.

Election addresses

On the back of a letter dated 29 February 1768, Samuel Johnson wrote an election address for Henry Thrale …

To the Electors of Southwark

Gentlemen,

I am unwilling to trouble you with a long address. The merits of Mr. Thrale are too well known to you to need any commendation from me. You have long experienced his vigilance and attention to your interests, and his unwearied endeavours to promote the prosperity of your borough.

He is a man of tried integrity and known ability. He has always supported the constitution in Church and State, and has never deviated from the principles of public virtue. I have no doubt that he will continue to merit your confidence, and that he will be found a faithful and able representative of your interests in Parliament.

I therefore recommend him to your most favourable consideration, and request your votes and interest at the approaching election.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

Sam. Johnson.

An election address written by Henry Thrale was published in various London newspapers on 8 March 1768 …

Gentlemen,

I am again sollicitous for your favours at the approaching election. I have been your representative for three years past, and I trust that I have not been found wanting in my attention to your interests.

I have always endeavoured to promote the prosperity of your borough, and to support the constitution in Church and State. I have never deviated from the principles of public virtue, and I have always been actuated by a sincere desire to serve my constituents.

I am now soliciting your votes and interest for a fourth time. I am confident that I shall continue to merit your confidence, and that I shall be found a faithful and able representative of your interests in Parliament. I therefore request your most favourable consideration, and I hope that you will again honour me with your suffrages.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

Henry Thrale.

A further election address written by Henry Thrale and published in various London newspapers on 14 March 1768 …

To the Electors of Southwark

Gentlemen,

I am again sollicitous for your favours at the approaching election. I have been your representative for three years past, and I trust that I have not been found wanting in my attention to your interests.

I have always endeavoured to promote the prosperity of your borough, and to support the constitution in Church and State. I have never deviated from the principles of public virtue, and I have always been actuated by a sincere desire to serve my constituents.

In the course of my last Parliament, I have supported several important measures, which have been beneficial to the town of Southwark. I have voted for the paving and lighting of the streets, and for the construction of a new workhouse. I have also supported measures to improve the navigation of the River Thames, which is of great importance to the trade of the town.

I am confident that I shall continue to merit your confidence, and that I shall be found a faithful and able representative of your interests in Parliament. I therefore request your most favourable consideration, and I hope that you will again honour me with your suffrages.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

Henry Thrale.

A further election address written by Henry Thrale and published in various London newspapers on 23 March 1768 …

To the Electors of Southwark

Gentlemen,

I am again soliciting your votes and interest at the approaching election. I have been your representative for three years past, and I trust that I have not been found wanting in my attention to your interests.

During my last Parliament, I have supported several important measures, which have been beneficial to the town of Southwark. I have voted for the following:

• The paving and lighting of the streets
• The construction of a new workhouse
• The improvement of the navigation of the River Thames
• The relief of the poor
• The promotion of education

I am confident that I shall continue to merit your confidence, and that I shall be found a faithful and able representative of your interests in Parliament. I therefore request your most favourable consideration, and I hope that you will again honour me with your suffrages.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

Henry Thrale.

Result

Candidate	Votes	Outcome
Henry Thrale	1,248	re-elected
Sir Joseph Maybey	1,159	re-elected
William Belchier	994	defeated

1774 Southwark constituency (elected)

Election address

An election address written by Henry Thrale and published in various London newspapers on 10 November 1774 …

To the Electors of Southwark

Gentlemen,

I am again soliciting your votes and interest at the approaching election. I have been your representative for six years past, and I trust that I have not been found wanting in my attention to your interests.

During my last Parliament, I have supported several important measures, which have been beneficial to the town of Southwark. I have voted for the following:

• The paving and lighting of the streets
• The construction of a new workhouse
• The improvement of the navigation of the River Thames
• The relief of the poor
• The promotion of education

I am confident that I shall continue to merit your confidence, and that I shall be found a faithful and able representative of your interests in Parliament. I therefore request your most favourable consideration, and I hope that you will again honour me with your suffrages.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

Henry Thrale.

Result

On 29 November 1774, Henry Thrale retained his Southwark seat together with Nathaniel Polhill.

Candidate	Votes	Outcome
Nathaniel Polhill	1,195	elected
Henry Thrale	1,026	elected
Lee	741	defeated
Alexander Hume	457	defeated

1780 Southwark (unelected)

In May 1780, a general election was imminent. Britain was at war with France and Spain, and things were going badly in America. Henry decided to fight the election despite his inability to travel to London to campaign.

Johnson and Hester Thrale travelled to London and campaigned on Henry’s behalf. In a letter to her daughter, Queeney of 15th May 1780 Hester Thrale wrote…

I fear poor Mr. Polhill will lose his seat as all the folks are mad for Sir Richard Hotham.

On 6 August 1780 Hester Thrale wrote…

I dread the General Election more than ever; Mr Thrale is now well enough to canvass in Person, and ’twill kill him: had it happened when he could not absolutely have stirred—We could have done it for him, but now! Well! one should not however anticipate Misfortunes, they will come Time enough.

On 2 September 1780, Hester Thrale wrote…

Mr Thrale received this day at Michel Grove the News of the Parliament being dissolved; we drove to Brighthelmstone that Night, & to Streatham Park the day following-Sunday.-on Monday 4: Septr he begun his Canvass, & went over St Savrs Parish, but so feebly, that his friends said I must go with him to all the others, which I did, & diligently we worked till Saturday came round again: on that day {10 September 1780} he was particularly brisk, & bore his fatigues to admiration, but on Sunday Morning he rose with a Diarrhea which fretted him the more, as he meant to appear at St George’s Church that day, & face his Rival Candidates.

thither however I attended him, & had the Mortification to see him seized with such Illness as made him look a perfect Corpse in the full View of an immense Congregation assembled to see the Gentlemen who wished to represent them. He would not quit the Church ill as he was, but sate the Service thro’ with the help of Hartshorn, Water &c. came home, & sunk into a State of Stupor from which Dr Lawrence & Sr Richard Jebb recovered him by the loss of 26 ounces of Blood, in Aid of Blisters & Catharticks, which were rapidly administer’d beside.

Mean Time I had a Committee met in the other Room but was obliged to confess Mr Thrale’s Situation, & Inability to appear at the Hustings next Morning-so we appointed & prevailed on Sir John Lade to perform for him, while I was forcd to appear in the Streets as a proof that my Husband existed. the next Step was to obtain Council, & I got Mr Lane & Robson the Attorney to give us what Assistance they could:-Monday however went off but heavily, Hotham & Polhill had avail’d themselves of our Misfortune, & had a great Majority.-Mr Thrale’s Spirit returned with his Consciousness, & he came to the place of Polling on Tuesday amidst the deafening Acclammations of his Friends-

It was too late however; & we could not regain by Effort, what Absence & Illness had lost: Private Friendship & untainted Character could hardly at any Time have carried this Cause against Political Fury, and a cajoling Candidate; but with added Illness it was far from probable; on Wensday therefore was the Poll declined-& we stole hither unobserved, to refit our shattered Frames against the next great Storm. My Constitution is sadly shook by this, but all will be well again, & my dear Master mends upon it hourly, & means even to try at another Borough.-.

The Cruelty of Sir Richard Hotham’s Behaviour, the Handbills set out against us, and Mr Polhill’s dirty Behaviour, is too bad.

Election addresses

On 5 September 1780 Hester delivered an election address from her husband, written by Samuel Johnson.

To The Worthy Electors of the Borough of Southwark

GENTLEMEN,—A new Parliament being now called, I again solicit the honour of being elected for one of your representatives; and solicit it with the greater confidence, as I am not conscious of having neglected my duty, or of having acted otherwise than as becomes the independent representative of independent constituents; superiour to fear, hope, and expectation, who has no private purposes to promote, and whose prosperity is involved in the prosperity of his country. As my recovery from a very severe distemper is not yet perfect, I have declined to attend the Hall, and hope an omission so necessary will not be harshly censured.

I can only send my respectful wishes, that all your deliberations may tend to the happiness of the kingdom, and the peace of the borough.

I am, Gentlemen, your most faithful and obedient servant,

Southwark, Sept. 5, 1780.

HENRY THRALE.

On 14 May 1780 during a ten-day electioneering stint Hester wrote the following account in Thraliana …

I am come from Bath to canvass the Borough for my Husband, he will be elected and not pleased, I shall be fatigued and never thanked—no matter—it is fit he who is ill should rest, & fit that I who am well should work—We succeed pretty well upon the whole; I made Governor Devaynes & Sir Philip:J:Clerke, go out with me and beg Votes:—the Boro’ folks called them my two edged Sword, as they cut upon Sir Richard Hotham both ways; the first as connected with the India house—the other as attached to the patriots. They good-naturedly dined with my Voters in St John’s at a publick house, while Mrs Davenant attended me to Fournier’s a principal Friend with whose Wife & Daughter we dined.—

I shewed my Consequence, frighted my Antagonists, got Mr Thrale many Promises, & shall return to Bath on Fryday 19: May 1780. if I can keep up my Master’s Spirits, & detain him at a Distance from this noisy place, he may do well yet; and enjoy his Seat in Parliament for ought I know these next seven Years.—

Samuel Johnson wrote to Queeney of Hester Thrale’s electioneering …

She has been very busy, and has run about the Borough like a Tigress seizing upon every thing that she found in her way.

Result

Even though voting in the general election did not end until Friday 17 September, his rivals leads were so large that Henry Thrale conceded defeat on 13 September after serving as Member of Parliament for Southwark for fifteen years. Eleven months later he died.