Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Oldfield, Thomas Hinton Burley
OLDFIELD, THOMAS HINTON BURLEY (1755–1822), political historian and antiquary, born in 1755, was according to the 'Gentleman's Magazine,' 1822, pt. ii. p. 566, 'an attorney of great celebrity.' His name, however, is unknown to the 'Law List.' He died at Exeter on 25 July 1822.
Oldfield was a zealous pioneer of parliamentary reform, and the author of (1) 'An Entire and Complete History, Political and Personal, of the Boroughs of Great Britain, together with the Cinque Ports; to which is prefixed an original Sketch of constitutional rights from the earliest Period until the present Time,' &c., London, 1792, 3 vols. 8vo; 2nd ed. 1794, 2 vols. 8vo. (2) 'History of the Original Constitution of Parliaments from the Time of the Britons to the present Day; to which is added the present State of the Representation,' London, 1797, 8vo.
Both works were subsequently reprinted under the title 'A Complete History, Political and Personal, of the Boroughs of Great Britain, together with the Cinque Ports; To which is now first added the History of the Original Constitution of Parliaments,' &c., London (no date), 3 vols. 8vo. A final edition, revised and amplified, entitled 'The Representative History of Great Britain and Ireland; being a History of the House of Commons, and of the Counties, Cities, and Boroughs of the United Kingdom from the earliest Period,' appeared in 1816, London, 6 vols. 8vo. Oldfield also compiled 'A Key to the House of Commons, being a History of the last General Election in 1818; and a correct State of the virtual Representation of England and Wales,' London, 1820, 8vo.
[Gent Mag. 1822, pt. ii. p. 566; Biogr. Dict. of Living Authors, 1816; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Edinburgh Review, June 1816.]