Thomas Denman was born on 23 February 1779 in London, the eldest son of Dr Thomas Denman (1733-1815) and Elizabeth Denman née Brodie (1746-1833).
His life is described in his Wikipedia page which confirms that he married Theodosia Anne Vevers (1779-1852) on 18 October 1804 in Saxby, Leicestershire and they had eleven children, including their fourth son George Denham. The Wikipedia page (as at August 2021) shows his date of birth incorrectly as 23 July 1779. Baptismal registers at St James's Church, Piccadilly, Westminster, record that he was baptised there on 20 March 1779 and that his date of birth was given as 23 February 1779.
He served as the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 1832 to 1850 and in 1834, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Denman, of Dovedale, in the County of Derby. His Derbyshire seat was Middleton Hall, Stoney Middleton, Hope Valley, S23 4TN.
In the 1841 census he is described as the Chief Justice residing at 38 Portland Place, Marylebone, with his wife, two daughters: Frances Denman (1812-1890) and Anne Denman (1822-1913), together with 7 female and 3 male servants. The 1850 Post Office London Directory lists him and his son George at 38 Portland Place, Marylebone.
The 1851 census shows him as a peer of the realm living with his wife at 'Parsloes', Dagenham, Essex, that was the home of his practising barrister son, Richard Denman (1814-1887) and his wife Emma Denman née Jones (1821-1883), together with his son's three daughters: Theodosia Anne Denman (1843-1852), Emma Sophia Georgiana Denman (1845-1939) and Ann Maria Denman (1848-1938). There were also 12 servants: a housekeeper, a nurse, a lady's maid, a housemaid, a kitchen maid, a nursery maid, Lord Denman's valet, a governess, Lady Denman's maid, a footman, a footboy and a groom.
He died, aged 75 years on 26 September 1854 at Stoke Albany, Northamptonshire and was buried in the churchyard of St Botolph's Church, Lower Road, Stoke Albany, Market Harborough, LE16 8PZ on 30 September 1854. The Lord Denman public house at 270-272 Heathway, Dagenham, RM10 8QS is named after his association with the nearby site of 'Parsloes'.
Photo credit: City of London Corporation.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
