Family and Education

b. 1774, 2nd s. of Rev. Thomas Horne, DD, master of Manor House School, Chiswick, Mdx. by his w. (d. 28 Oct. 1826). educ. at his fa.’s sch.; L. Inn 1793, called 1798. m. 12 Aug. 1799, Ann, da. of James Hesse of Flitwick, Beds., at least 4s., some das. Kntd. 24 Oct. 1830.

Offices Held

Commr. of bankrupts 1807-18; KC 7 Aug. 1818; bencher, L. Inn 1818; attorney-gen. to the Queen 1830; solicitor-gen. Nov. 1830-Nov. 1832, attorney-gen. Nov. 1832-Feb. 1834; master in Chancery July 1839-1853.

Lt. Inns of Court vols. 1803.

Biography

Horne’s father, the son of a clergyman in Warwickshire and himself in orders, kept a reputable school at Chiswick.1 His eldest son Thomas also took orders and succeeded him as master of the school; his second son William was bred to the law. He practised in Chancery, where he became a leader. In 1812 he was returned for Helston on the interest of the Duke of Leeds, whose agent George Brooks had been his wife’s guardian.

In his maiden speech, 15 Feb. 1813, he supported the creation of the office of vice-chancellor ‘but from the low tone in which he spoke, it was impossible to collect the greater part of his speech’. On 22 Nov. he spoke more distinctly in defence of his patron, when the duke’s system of managing Helston was exposed and an attempt made to reform the borough. He was listed ‘doubtful’ by the Treasury and his conduct bore it out. He voted with the minority against the resolutions on gold coin, 11 Dec. 1812; staunchly supported Catholic relief; opposed the continuation of the militia, 28 Nov. 1814, and the corn bill, 3 and 10 Mar. 1815; supported Stuart Wortley’s motion for reducing the army estimates, 6 Mar. 1816, and opposed the renewal of the property tax, 18 Mar. He was in the minority against Lord Binning’s membership of the finance committee, 7 Feb. 1817. Although he was prepared to support administration when he agreed with their measures, as on 20 June 1816, 25 Feb. 1817 and 23 June 1817, they reported in 1818 that he had never been in contact with them.2 He had again voted against them on 15 Apr. 1818, on the ducal grants.

He had purchased his seat for only one Parliament and was left without one in 1818. In that year he took silk and did not return to politics until the Whigs came to power in 1830; according to his colleague Brougham he was ‘abominably treated’ in public life.3 He died 13 July 1860.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: R. G. Thorne

Notes

• 1. Sir T. Martin, Lord Lyndhurst, 18.
• 2. Add. 40279, f. 62.
• 3. Creevey’s Life and Times, iii. 241, 426.