Sophia Thrale

  • Posted on: 26 September 2009
  • By: David Thrale

Portrait of Sophia ThraleBorn on 23 July 1771 in Streatham and was Christened on 11 August 1771 at St. Leonard's Church, Streatham. Sophia was also a favourite of Johnson, who called her:

dear, sweet, pretty, lovely, delicious Miss Sophy.

Characteristics

Sophia was a very large baby, common in overdue children. Johnson said of her during pregnancy…

This naughty baby stays so long that I am afraid it will be a giant, like King Richard.

As she grew she became very stout and…

handsome enough, though not eminant for beauty.

In July 1779 - when Sophia was eight - Hester wrote in Thraliana

Susan & Sophy are fine Girls, and promise to be a Credit & Comfort to their Parents, neither do I yet see any Disposition in the Eldest that need give one pain”;.

Education

Dear, sweet, pretty, lovely, delicious Miss Sophy.

Dr. Samuel Johnson.

Also at age four, she was memorising hymns, her multiplication tables and various Psalms.

On 6 August 1780 Hester wrote in Thraliana…

Sophy has a Turn for making Verses, bad enough to be sure, yet such a Turn shews Genius in a Girl who was nine Years old only a fortnight ago

In January 1781 Hester wrote in Thraliana…

Sophia, who is a more natural Character, finds no Entertainment in writing at all; but works hard at her Needle, and Harpsichord, and gets to spouting Fingal for her Diversion—they both1 have obtained the French Accent very completely , considering they have never been out of England. I should like to treat them to with a run to the Continent.

On 17 December 1781 Hester wrote…

My Sophy Thrale has begun to study Musik in good earnest; She will learn to play & sing very well I fancy, Piozzi has great hopes of her. Sophy is an Epitome of all the Cotton family—'tis odd that none of my children should resemble my Father.

She attended Mrs Stevenson's school in Queens Square, London, and Mrs Cumyns's boarding school in Kensington, London.Portrait of Sophia Thrale

Health scare

In Bath on 19 November 1783, when Sophia was aged 12, Hester wrote in Thraliana…

Heavens! a new Distress! my Child, my Sophia will dye: arrested by the hand of God—apparently so: She will die without a Disease—Fits, sudden, unaccountable, unprovoked; Apoplectic, lethargic like her Father. Woodward and Dobson are called: they say her Disorder should be termed Allonitus. 'tis an instant Cessation of all Nature's Pow'rs at once. I saved her in the first Attack, bya Dram of fine Old Usquebough given at the proper Moment—it reviv'd her, but She only lives I see to expire with fresh Struggles.

Oh spare my Sophia, my Darling, oh spare her gracious heaven—& take in Exchange the life of her wretched Mother!

She lives, I have been permitted to save her again; I rubbed her while just expiring, so as to keep the heart in Motion: She knew me instantly, & said you warm me but you are killing yourself—I actually was in a burning Fever from exertion, & fainted soon as I had saved my Child.

Hester has behaved inimitably too, all our Tenderness was called out on this Occasion: dear Creatures! they see I love them, that I would willingly die for them; that I am actually dying to gratifie their Humour at the Expence of my own Happiness: they can but have my Life-let them take it !”;

Sophy has a Turn for making Verses, bad enough to be sure, yet such a Turn shews Genius in a Girl who was nine Years old only a fortnight ago.

Hester Lynch Thrale.

Johnson's letters show that he, and perhaps the physicians, regarded this attack of Sophia's as hysterical. On 27 November 1783 he wrote…

I had to-day another trifling letter from the physicians. Do not let them fill your mind with terrours which perhaps they have not in their own; neither suffer yourself to sit forming comparisons between Sophy and her dear father; between; whom there can be no other resemblance, than that of sickness to sickness. Hystericks and apoplexies have no relation.

Sophie's illness recurred for at least a year. It was mentioned again by Johnson in his March 1784 letters.

Marriage

Henry Merrik Hoare by Woodforde
On 13 August 1807, Sophia married Henry Merrick Hoare (1770 - 1826). He was the 3rd son of Baronet Sir Richard Hoare and Henry was a banker in the family firm founded by his great great grandfather. Henry was also the 15th great grandson of King Edward I (1239-1307) and 16th great grandson of Henry III (1297-1272). On hearing of the wedding, which she did not attend, Sophia's mother wrote of Sophia's kindness and civility.

In return Hester gave Sophy an original Gainsborough landscape painting. This painting was later owned by the Marquis of Lansdowne and displayed in London at 1936 Gainsborough exhibition. On 17 October 1807, Hester wrote of the painting…

"The Subject Cattle driven down to drink, & the first Cow expresses Something of Surprize as if an Otter lurked under the Bank. It is a naked looking Landschape—done to divert Abel the Musician by representing his Country Bohenia in no favourable Light, & the Dog is a favourite's Portrait….

In 1805 Sophia sent her mother a gift of pens, to which her mother wrote some verses in response, by way of thanks.

Death

Sophia Thrale's mourning tablet By John Flaxman at St Leonards Church, Streatham.

Sophia died on 8 November 1824 aged 53. Her portrait is believed to be at Bowood House.