Histories

The 1782 defamation Court case by Hester Thrale against Lady Elizabeth Salusbury stemmed from a series of letters that Lady Elizabeth had written to Hester in which she made defamatory statements about Hester. It had a significant impact Hester and established principles in the law of defamation. Lady Elizabeth Salusbury 1744-1833 was the wife of Sir Thomas Salusbury, 1st Baronet. She was a friend of Hester, but was not related despite the surname.

The accusation

Henry Thrale died in 1781 and two years later, Hester remarried Gabriel Piozzi. Thrale’s remarriage was controversial, and it led to a rift between her and some of her friends, including Lady Salusbury. In her letters to Hester, Lady Salusbury accused her of:

• being a bad wife;
• being a bad mother; and
• having an affair with her husband.

Hester was deeply offended and sued Lady Salusbury for defamation.

1782 trial

The court case occurred on 15-23 July 1782. It was one of the most publicised cases of its time.

Verdict

The judge ruled in favour of Hester and Lady Salusbury was ordered to pay £500 in damages and costs in recognition of the harm that Salusbury’s defamatory statements caused.

Newspaper reports

One of the most detailed accounts of the case appeared in the London Chronicle on 16 July 1782. The report described the opening day of the trial, including the speeches of the lawyers and the evidence of the witnesses. The report also described the reaction of the crowd, which was largely in favour of Thrale.

Another detailed account of the case appeared in the Morning Chronicle on 24 July 1782. This report described the final day of the trial, including the speeches of the lawyers and the verdict of the jury. The report also described the reaction of Thrale and her supporters, who were overjoyed by the verdict.

In addition to these detailed accounts, there are other newspaper reports of the case. These reports can be found in a variety of newspapers, including the Public Advertiser, the Whitehall Evening Post, and the St. James’s Chronicle.

Legal precedent

This case became a landmark case in the law of defamation. It helped to establish the principle that defamation can be a serious offence and that it can lead to significant damages awards.