Bonnell Thornton

In the east cloister of Westminster Abbey is a memorial tablet to Bonnell Thornton, author, editor of The Connoisseur and friend of Dr Johnson. This includes a profile relief portrait, with books and papers. The Latin inscription, composed by his friend Dr Joseph Wharton, can be translated:

Bonnell Thornton, Esq. departed from the neighbouring royal school [Westminster School] to be a pupil at the house of Christ [Christ Church] Oxford; his talents, most felicitously perfected by all branches of liberal scholarship, were accompanied, and graced by, his open, sincere and candid disposition. In his writings and in his conversation, he showed a marvellous sense of humour, and his particular genius for witticism flourished for all to see. He was singularly felicitous in censuring human absurdities with his pen, yet altogether without acrimony and with much merriment, and he was most pleasant in social intercourse. He took to wife Sylvia Brathwaite, who survives him, together with their three children. She, very properly, amidst the great grief of herself and her family, bore the cost of this marble. He died, most deeply lamented, 9th May 1768, aged 40

He was born in Westminster, a son of John, an apothecary, and his wife Rebecca. He was a King's Scholar at the school and in 1749 produced his Ode on St Cecilia's Day..., a parody of the annual musical celebrations. After contributing to several journals he and his friend George Colman began The Connoisseur and later the St James Chronicle. In 1754 he married Sylvia, daughter of Colonel John Brathwaite (her mother Sylvia married secondly the Revd.Thomas Winstanley and is buried in the east cloister). Bonnell died at his house in Orchard Street, Westminster and was buried in St Margaret's Church on 15th May 1768.

His son Bonnell George Thornton had an oval marble tablet in the east cloister with an inscription by Dr Thornton, but this was taken down in 1950 as it was decayed. This inscription read:

To the memory of Bonnell George Thornton, eldest son of the late Bonnell Thornton, who departed this life in the hope of a blessed eternity April the 14th 1790 at the early age of twenty four.

Oh worth in early youth by all approved!

Oh happy genius, ripened in thy bloom!

To thee, for every social virtue loved,

Thy friend, thy brother, consecrates this tomb

He was buried at St Margaret's Westminster on 26th April 1790.