Sir Henry Thomas

Sir Henry Thomas (1807–1876), police magistrate.

Thomas, eldest son of David Henry of St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, head of the firm of Henry, Mullins, & MacMahon, government contractors, was born in Dublin in 1807. He was educated at Von Feinagle's school in that city and at Trinity College, where he graduated B.A. 1824, and M.A. 1827.

On 23 Jan. 1829 he was called to the bar at the Middle Temple, went the northern circuit, and attended the West Riding of Yorkshire sessions. He was magistrate at the Lambeth Street police-court, Whitechapel, from April 1840 till 1846, when he was transferred to Bow Street, became chief magistrate there 6 July 1864, and was knighted on 30 Nov. He discharged his duties with general approval. To him is very largely due the existing law of extradition; the Extradition Act and the various treaties connected therewith between England and foreign powers were in each case drawn by him. He was for many years the chief adviser of the government on all questions of administrative and correctional police, and his opinion was acted upon in the various licensing bills, the betting acts, Sunday trading legislation, and similar measures. He gave evidence before the committee on theatrical licenses, and pointed out with great precision the position of music-halls and casinos as places of amusement, and the degree of police supervision to which it is desirable that they should be subjected [Report on Theatrical Licenses, 1866, pp. 30–8] .

He died at his residence, 23 Hanover Square, London, 16 June 1876, and was buried in the ground of St. Thomas's Roman catholic church, Fulham, on 21 June.

References

*DNB