Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Thrupp, John

740658Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 56 — Thrupp, John1898Thomas Seccombe (1866-1923)

THRUPP, JOHN (1817–1870), historical writer, born on 5 Feb. 1817, was the eldest son of John Augustus Thrupp (1785–1844) of Spanish Place, Manchester Square, London, the eldest son of Joseph Thrupp of Paddington Green, by his first wife, Mary Burgon. Frederick Thrupp [q. v.] was his father's half-brother. After education at Dr. Laing's school at Clapham he was articled in 1834 and admitted a solicitor in 1838; he practised at Bell Yard, Doctors' Commons. Shortly after his publication in 1843 of his volume of ‘Historical Law Tracts,’ his father died and left him a competency. Henceforth he devoted more and more time to archæology and chess, in both of which pursuits he shared his enthusiasm with Henry Thomas Buckle [q. v.] He had to give up chess in 1856, but in 1862 he was able to bring some of his historical studies to fruition in his valuable ‘Anglo-Saxon Home: a History of the Domestic Institutions and Customs of England from the Fifth to the Eleventh Century’ (see Athenæum, 1862, ii. 178). John Thrupp died at Sunnyside, Dorking, on 20 Jan. 1870. He was thrice married, but left no issue.

[Law Times, 19 Feb. 1870; private information; Brit. Mus. Cat.]

T. S.