Thomas Boddington (3 June 1736 – 28 June 1821) was a political activist in London in the late 18th century. He lived in Clapton (then in Middlesex). Boddington was involved in the slave trade and active as part of the West India lobby, but also participated in other committees: The Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor, and the Committees for Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts. He was a director of the Bank of England (1776–1810)[1] and was on the Board of the London Dock Company. He worked at the Board of Ordnance based at the Tower of London from 1770, where he was the direct superior of Granville Sharp.[2] Along with James Ware, Samuel Bosanquet and William Houlston, Boddington was involved in setting up the School for the Indigent Blind, St George's Fields, Southwark in 1799 housed in what used to be the notorious Dog and Duck tavern.[3]
Both he and his brother, Benjamin Boddington were West Indian merchants, based in 17 Mark Lane, London. He retired in 1794, whereon his son, Benjamin Boddington, took his place. His daughter, Elizabeth, married Isaac Hawkins Browne, MP.[4] A son married Grace Ashburner, the subject of a noted George Romney painting.[5]
References
- ^ Peter Fryer, Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain, London: Pluto Press, 1984; p. 47.
- ^ Rough Crossings by Simon Schama, BBC Books, 2005
- ^ Darlington, Ida. "Chapter 7: St. George's Fields: Enclosure And Development". Survey of London: volume 25: St George's Fields Charitable Institutions. London County Council. pp. 65–71.
- ^ "Elizabeth Browne". Geni. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "From the Collection–Miss Grace Ashburner by George Romney". Milwaukee Art Museum Blog. August 1, 2017.