He lived in Streatham for 3 years from 1782 at "Streatham Park" the home of the Thrales as a tenant.
Peace with France, with whom Britain was then at war, was negotiated at the Thrale's Streatham Park whilst Prime Minister Shelburne was in residence.
Jeremy Beptham tells of meeting the Viscount de Vergennes, son of the French Prime Minister, in Henry Thrale's library, and hearing him ask, "Are there any such people in England as authors?" while Sir Joshua Reynolds portraits of Samuel Johnson and the Streatham worthies looked down upon him as sufficient answer (Source David Thrale Thrale.com)
Sir Joshua Reynolds ©National Portrait Galley- Creative Commons License