Thompson, T. Perronet (Thomas Perronet), 1783-1869

General and politician, published Geometry without axioms in 1830.

From the description of Letter : London, to Laman Blanchard, 1840 Mar. 11. (Bryn Mawr College). WorldCat record id: 28296300

The general and politician Thomas Perronet Thompson was born in Hull on 15 March 1783. He was educated at Hull Grammar School and then studied at Queen's College, Cambridge. On his graduation with a B.A. he became a midshipman on the flagship 'Isis' and sailed to Newfoundland. After spending four years in the Navy, he joined the Army in 1806 and saw action in South America against the Spanish. In 1808 he became Governor of Sierra Leone, then an infant colony, but he was recalled in his second year. Thompson again saw action, this time in Spain, in the Peninsular War. In 1815, he was in India, and he also saw action in the Arabian Peninsula, in Ras al Khaimah. In 1822 he returned to Britain and obtained promotion after promotion until in 1868 he became a general. Once in Britain, he took to politics and literature and entered the intellectual circle around Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832). Sympathising with the moves for Greek independence he wrote one or two pamphlets in 1825, and he also wrote on economic matters supporting Adam Smith (1723-1790). In 1829 he became the proprietor of the Westminster review and in 1835 he entered Parliament. Though he was defeated again in 1837, he re-entered the House in 1847 but was out again in 1852. Thompson was an MP again for the last time between 1857 and 1859. He wrote on many topics including free trade, Catholic emancipation, the House of Lords, the theory of rent, currency, and the Corn Laws. His publications, many in pamphlet form, include True theory of rent (1826), Catechism on the Corn Laws (1827), Geometry without axioms (1830), Catechism on the currency (1848), and Fallacies on the ballot (1855). Thomas Perronet Thompson died at Blackheath, London, on 6 September 1869.

From the guide to the Correspondence of Thomas Perronet Thompson (1783-1869), 1824-1864, (Edinburgh University Library)

General Thomas Perronet Thompson (1783-1869) was a politician and reformer. His father was Thomas Thompson, a merchant and banker of Hull. His mother, Philothea Perronet Briggs, was related to Vincent Perronet, a Methodist and close friend of John Wesley. He served both in the navy and the army, and was in 1808 the first governor of Sierra Leone. On his return to England in 1822 he turned to politics and supported the Anti-Corn-Law League and free trade. His interests were extremely wide, including natural history, geometry, and music, as well as politics and economics. For seven years he owned the Westminster Review . At the Great Exhibition of 1851 he showed an enharmonic organ constructed according to his musical theories. In June 1836 he entered Parliament as the member for Hull and only finally gave up his seat in 1859 after fighting for his policies whether in or out of Parliament. He married Anne Elizabeth [Nancy] Barker from York and had three sons and a daughter, all of whom had distinguished careers

From the guide to the Additional papers of Thomas Perronet Thompson and of other members of his family, ca.1745-1941, (GB 206 Leeds University Library)

General Thomas Perronet Thompson (1783-1869) was a politician and reformer. His father was Thomas Thompson, a merchant and banker of Hull. His mother, Philothea Perronet Briggs, was related to Vincent Perronet, a Methodist and close friend of John Wesley. Thomas Perronet Thompson served both in the navy and the army, and was in 1808 the first governor of Sierra Leone. On his return to England in 1822 he turned to politics and supported the Anti-Corn-Law League and free trade. His interests were extremely wide, including natural history, geometry, and music, as well as politics and economics. For seven years he owned the Westminster Review . At the Great Exhibition of 1851 he showed an enharmonic organ constructed according to his musical theories. In June 1836 he entered Parliament as the member for Hull and only finally gave up his seat in 1859 after fighting for his policies whether in or out of Parliament. He married Anne Elizabeth [Nancy] Barker from York and had three sons and a daughter, all of whom had distinguished careers

From the guide to the Correspondence of Thomas Perronet Thompson, members of his family, and other persons, 1793-1912, (GB 206 Leeds University Library)