Born in 1728 in Strand, London, where his father practised as an apothecary, he was educated at Charterhouse School, with a view to a career in the church. He made an unsuccessful attempt to follow his father's profession.
Stage career
According to Biographia Dramatica, Hull first appeared at the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin; and then moved on to Bath, Somerset, where he managed the theatre for John Palmer. His first recorded appearance was, however, at Covent Garden Theatre, 5 October 1759, as Elder Wou'dbe in George Farquhar's Twin Rivals. At Covent Garden Hull stayed without a break, apparently, till the end of his career, a period of forty-eight years. He was the original Harpagus in John Hoole's Cyrus, Edwin in William Mason's Elfrida, Pizarro in Arthur Murphy's Alzuma, Mador in Mason's Caractacus, Sir Hubert in Hannah More's Percy, and Mr. Shandy in Leonard McNally's Tristram Shandy. From 1775 to 1782 Hull managed Covent Garden for George Colman. It was his pride that during his long connection with Covent Garden he only missed playing his part once, when he was confined to his bed by a fever. The plays attributed to him, with one or two exceptions which are noted, were acted at Covent Garden.
Death
Hull's name appeared for the last time on the bills on 28 December 1807, when he played the Uncle in George Barnwell. He died on 22 April 1808 at his house, near Dean's Yard, Westminster, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Margaret's, Westminster. His sister, Anna Maria, married John Awsiter. Their daughter, Jane Elizabeth Awister, died in 1837/38, and express the with to be buried with her uncle, Thomas Hull, in St Margaret's Westminter Hull played a role in establishing the Theatrical Fund, taking the initiative over the distresses of Mrs. Hamilton, and calling the actors together. He married Miss Morrison, an actress.
Works
Hull's plays were:
The Twins, an adaptation of the Comedy of Errors, 24 April 1762; not printed, but once acted, and possibly assigned to Hull in error.
The Absent Man, a farce, 28 April 1764; not printed.
Pharnaces, an opera adapted from the Italian, acted at Drury Lane probably in 1765.
Spanish Lady, musical entertainment, 1765, acted 2 May 1765, and again with alterations 11 December 1769.
Henry the Second, or the Fall of Rosamond, a tragedy in five acts and in verse, 1774, acted 1 May 1773, with Hull as Clifford, Mrs. Hull as Queen Eleanor, and Mrs. Hartley as Rosamond; it was more than once revived. Four editions of this appeared in 1774; an edition was issued in York in 1775, and the play is included in the collections of Bell and Elizabeth Inchbald.
Edward and Eleonora, a tragedy, 1775, slightly altered from Thomson, 18 March 1775.
Love finds the Way, a comic opera, not printed, based on the School for Guardians, 18 November 1777.
Iphigenia, or the Victim, not printed, 23 March 1778, a tragedy slightly altered from a translation by Boyer of Jean Racine. Hull played Agamemnon.
The Fatal Interview, a tragedy, not printed, Drury Lane, 16 November 1782. Mrs. Siddons played the heroine, but the piece failed.
True British Tar, or found at a Pinch, a one-act musical entertainment, played in 1786 at Hull, and not printed.
Timon of Athens, adapted from Shakespeare and Thomas Shadwell, 13 May 1786. Hull played Flavius.
The Comedy of Errors, 1793, 3 June 1793, slightly altered from Shakespeare. Hull was Ægeon.
Disinterested Love, 30 May 1798, an unprinted alteration from Philip Massinger, in which Hull played Octavio.
Elisha, or the Woman of Shunem, an oratorio, 1801, presumably not given at Covent Garden. After the custom of the day, just the airs, duets, etc. of the musical pieces were printed.
Hull also wrote:
The History of Sir William Harrington, a novel, 4 vols. 1771; reprinted 1797; translated into German, Leipzig, 1771, and French, Lausanne, 1773.
Richard Plantagenet, a Legendary Tale, 1774.
Select Letters between the late Duchess of Somerset, Lady Luxborough, and others, including a Sketch of the Manners, &c., of the Republic of Venice, 2 vols. London, 1778.
A Collection of Poems and Translations in English and Latin, Bath, 1780.
Hull also enjoyed the friendship of William Shenstone, some of whose letters he published. His name also appears on Genuine Letters from a Gentlewoman to a young Lady, her Pupil. Now first revised and published by T. Hull, 1772, 2 vols.
