The premier, Sir George Grey, was his wife's half-uncle and adoptive father, and that relationship resulted in Thorne George representing the South Island electorate of Hokitika despite him being based in the North Island.

[2] He received his education at Cheltenham College in Gloucestershire, England[3] with a view of joining the Royal Engineers, but he had an accident playing soccer, abandoned his studies, and started work as a civil engineer in London.

[4] His father was a friend of Sir George Grey, who had been Governor of New Zealand and who temporarily returned to England in 1859.

[4] On 3 December 1872, he married Annie Maria Matthews (1853–1938),[1] who was the daughter of Sir Godfrey Thomas, the half brother of George Grey.

[9] He contested the 1884 election in the Parnell electorate, but was defeated by the incumbent, Frederick Moss.