Samuel Thornton was one of the sons of John Thornton, a leading merchant in the Russian and Baltic trade, and was a director of the Bank of England for 53 years and Governor.
Career
He had earlier served as its Deputy Governor. As Member of Parliament for Kingston he was painted by Karl Anton Hickel in the group portrait "William Pitt addressing the House of Commons on the French Declaration of War, 1793" which still hangs at the National Portrait Gallery. He bought Albury Manor, Albury, Surrey in 1800, and lived there until 1811.
He employed the architect Sir John Soane 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 the agricultural improvements.
Membership
1st United Kingdom Parliament. 2nd United Kingdom Parliament. 3rd United Kingdom Parliament.
4th United Kingdom Parliament.
16th Parliament of Great Britain. 17th Parliament of Great Britain.
18th Parliament of Great Britain]
He was Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Kingston upon Hull (with William Wilberforce in 1784) from 1784 to 1806 and for Surrey from 1807 to 1812. He and was a member of the Committee for the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts.
All three were members of the Clapham Section(s) and lived in adjoining houses in Clapham.