THORNHILL, Sir James (c.1675-1734), of Thornhill, Dorset.

Family and Education

b. c. 1675, s. of Walter Thornhill of Wareham by Mary, da. of Col. William Sydenham, gov. of Weymouth castle. m. Judith, 1s. 1da. who m. William Hogarth. Kntd. 2 May 1720.

Offices Held

King’s history painter 1720 – d. serjeant-painter 1720 – 32.

Address

Main residence: Thornhill, Dorset.

biography text

Thornhill was born at Weymouth of an ancient Dorset family. Having made a fortune by his painting, he purchased and re-built his ancestral seat at Thornhill. Returned without opposition for Weymouth, to whose church he presented an altar -piece painted by himself, he voted regularly with the Government. He died 13 May 1734, acclaimed as ‘the greatest history painter this kingdom ever produced’.1Gent. Mag. 1734, pp. 174-5.

Author

R.R.S.

Volume

Commons 1715-1754

Notes

1. Gent. Mag. 1734, pp. 174-5.