Thomas Bigge facts for kids

Thomas Bigge (1766–1851) was an English writer and activist who cared about politics. Later in his life, he became a partner in a famous jewelry company called Rundell, Bridge & Co.. He was known for sharing his ideas and working to make changes in society.

Thomas Bigge's Early Life and Family

Thomas Bigge was born in 1766. His father, also named Thomas Bigge, lived in London. His mother, Elizabeth Rundell, was the sister of Philip Rundell, a well-known jeweler. Thomas's family owned land in a place called Little Benton in Northumberland. His grandfather had gained this land through marriage. Thomas's father even built a house there called the White House.

Thomas Bigge went to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, a famous university. He finished his studies there in 1787.

How Thomas Bigge Became a Political Writer

Thomas Bigge came from a wealthy family involved in business and land. He became friends with Christopher Wyvill, another important reformer. Both men wrote about politics, especially when the French Revolutionary Wars began. They shared their writings through booksellers in Newcastle, like William Charnley, and through the Newcastle Chronicle newspaper. This newspaper was a leading Whig (a political group) journal at the time.

Bigge was also a close friend of John Tweddell, a student who spoke out about his ideas. Thomas Bigge's own views were often in the middle, between very radical (wanting big changes) and very loyalist (wanting to keep things as they were). He wrote letters to Charles Grey, who later became a Prime Minister.

In 1795, Grey gave Bigge advice about planning a meeting in Northumberland. This meeting was against the war. Grey wanted to make sure the meeting was careful and didn't criticize the government too much. Bigge prepared for the meeting by handing out flyers. When the meeting happened in December, many people attended. Nearly 5,000 people voted to sign petitions against new laws.

Thomas Bigge was also a friend of James Losh. Losh visited Newcastle in 1797 and stayed with Bigge at Little Benton. Bigge also helped support a monthly magazine called The Oeconomist, which was published in 1798 and 1799.

Thomas Bigge and Newcastle's Societies

Thomas Bigge joined the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1795. He played a big part in this group, which was about learning and discussing ideas. He also strongly supported the creation of the New Institution in Newcastle. This institution started in 1802 and offered lectures by William Turner. Bigge was inspired by the Royal Institution in London, which also offered public lectures on science and other topics.

Thomas Bigge's Later Life and Business

Later in his life, Thomas Bigge became a partner in Rundell, Bridge & Co., a famous company that made jewelry and worked with gold. This company was started by Philip Rundell and John Bridge. In 1830, Thomas Bigge owned 25% of the company. After John Bridge died, Bigge helped run the company with John Gawler Bridge.

Queen Victoria's crown, made in 1838 by Rundell, Bridge & Co.

The company worked with important artists. For example, they created the "Shield of Achilles," a famous piece of art. This project was started by William Theed the elder and finished by John Flaxman. The detailed work on the shield was done by William Pitts II. In 1849, Bigge gave one of these "Shields" to the Royal Society of Literature. Rundell, Bridge & Co. also made a new crown for Queen Victoria in 1838. This new crown was much lighter than the old one.

Philip Rundell, one of the founders, left the company in 1823 and died in 1827. He was very wealthy. He left a lot of money to the Bigge family, more than £100,000.

The company stopped trading in 1843, and the partnership officially ended in 1845. Thomas Bigge lived in different places, including Brompton Row and Bryanston Square in London, and also in Beddington, Surrey.

Thomas Bigge's Family Life

Thomas Bigge married his cousin, Maria Rundell. Maria was also the niece of Philip Rundell. Her mother, Maria Eliza Rundell, was a famous writer who wrote about cooking. Thomas and Maria had a large family with 13 children. Maria died in 1846.

Their oldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Lieutenant-colonel Alexander Anderson. Another daughter, Augusta, married Edward Pope. Georgiana married George Scovell and was the mother of Sir Augustus Scovell, a politician in London.

Sometimes, Thomas Bigge has been confused with a relative named Thomas Hanway Bigge in some books.