N.B.--“Great Britain” was not a recognized term till 1701 (Queen Anne), when the two parliaments of Scotland and England were united. Before that time, England was called “South Britain,” Scotland “North Britain,” and Brittany “Little Britain.” The date, 1630, would carry us back to the reign of Charles I.
Fielding, in 1730, wrote a burlesque opera called Tom Thumb, which was altered in 1778, by Kane O’Hara. Dr. Arne wrote the music to it, and his “daughter (afterwards Mrs. Cibber), then only 14, acted the part of ‘Tom Thumb’ at the Haymarket Theatre.”--T. Davies, Life of Garrick.
⁂ Here again the dates do not correctly fit in. Mrs. Cibber was born in 1710, and must have been 20 when Fielding produced his opera of Tom Thumb.
Thumb (General Tom), a dwarf exhibited in London in 1846. His real name was Charles S. Stratton. At the age of 25, his height was 25 inches, and his weight 25 lbs. He was born at Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1832, and died in January, 1879.
They rush by thousands to see Tom Thumb. They push, they fight, they scream, they faint, they cry, “Help!” and “Murder!” They see my bills and caravan, but do not read them. Their eyes are on them, but their sense is gone.... In one week 12,000 persons paid to see Tom Thumb, while only 133½ paid to see my “Aristidês.”--Haydon, the artist, MS. Diary.
Thunder (The Giant), a giant who fell into a river and was killed, because Jack cut the ropes which suspended a bridge which the giant was about to cross.--Jack the Giant Killer.
Thunder (The Sons of). James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were called “Boaner´gês.”--Luke ix. 54; Mark iii. 17.
Thunder and Lightning, Stephen II. of Hungary, was surnamed Tonnant (1100, 1114-1131).
Thunderbolt (The). Ptolemy, king of Macedon, eldest son of Ptolemy Sotêr I., was so called from his great impetuosity (B.C. *, 285-279).
Handel was called by Mozart “The Thunderbolt” (1684-1759).