Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Thurlow, Thomas
THURLOW, THOMAS (1737–1791), bishop of Durham, born at Ashfield, Suffolk, in 1737, was second son of Thomas Thurlow, rector of Little Ashfield, Suffolk. Edward Thurlow, first baron Thurlow [q. v.], was his elder brother. Thomas matriculated from Queen's College, Oxford, on 13 July 1754, and was a demy of Magdalen College from 1755 to 1759, when he was elected a fellow. He graduated B.A. on 11 April 1758, M.A. on 9 March 1761, B.D. on 13 April 1769, and D.D. on 23 June 1772. In 1771 he became rector of Stanhope in Durham, and in the following year was appointed master of the Temple. On 2 Nov. 1775 he was nominated dean of Rochester, and on 30 March 1779 he was consecrated bishop of Lincoln. On 13 March 1782 he became dean of St. Paul's, but resigned the office in 1787 on being translated to the see of Durham. He died in Portland Place, London, on 27 May 1791, and was buried in the Temple church. By his wife Anne, daughter of William Bere of Lymington, Hampshire, he left three daughters and a son Edward (1781–1829) [q. v.], who in 1806 succeeded his uncle as second Baron Thurlow. Thomas published a few sermons, but he owed his advancement in the church to the advocacy of his brother rather than to his own ability. He was, however, a zealous patron of literary merit.
[Gent. Mag. 1791, i. 494, ii. 782; Bloxam's Registers of Magdalen College, vi. 296–9; Edinburgh Review, cx. 329; Best's Personal Memorials, 1829, p. 225; Jesse's Memoirs of George III, ii. 265; Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, ix. 679; Le Neve's Eccl. Angl. ii. 28, 317, 579, iii. 297; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886; Notes and Queries, II. ix. 392; G. E. C[okayne]'s Peerage; Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 19174, f. 709.]