Histories

1775 City of London Alderman

The Court of Aldermen is the upper house of the City of London Corporation, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the City of London and representing the City’s interests in Parliament.

Henry Thrale was elected to the Court of Aldermen in 1775 and served until his death in 1781.

The London Chronicle on September 1, 1775, reports that Henry Thrale was elected to the Court of Aldermen saying he was elected by the Common Hall, which is the governing body of the City of London. The Public Advertiser on 2 September 1775 reported his election to the Court of Aldermen saying that he was elected “without a contest.”

During his time as an Alderman, Henry:

• helped to improve the City’s water supply by supporting the construction of the New River Head;
• supported the development of the construction of new roads and bridges;
• was a strong advocate for the poor and disadvantaged, working to improve their living conditions;
• supported education, and he helped to establish several schools;
• was a member of the committee that oversaw the rebuilding of St. Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire of London.

1777 Sheriff of London

The Sheriff was the chief law enforcement officer of the City of London, responsible for maintaining law and order, as well as overseeing the City’s prisons and courts.

Henry Thrale was elected the Sheriff of London in 1777 and served until his death in 1781.

The London Chronicle on September 1, 1777, reports that Henry Thrale was elected Sheriff of London saying he was elected unanimously by the Court of Aldermen. The Public Advertiser on September 2, 1777 says that he was elected “without a contest.”

His time as Sheriff was relatively uneventful. There were no major crimes or disturbances during his term of office. He made improvements to the City’s law enforcement system:

• increasing the number of police officers, and
• established a new system for training and disciplining police officers.