The opera was initially scheduled to premiere in October 1760 but was postponed due to the death of King George II.

Thomas and Sally is one of only a few works by Arne that were not destroyed in the disastrous fire at Covent Garden in 1808 and it has occasionally been revived during the past century.

The BBC made a television production of the opera in 1937 with Joan Collier as Sally, Vivienne Chatterton as Dorcas, Henry Wendon as Thomas, and Dennis Noble as the Squire.

The orchestration is also unusual for a lighter opera of this period, as Arne included clarinets in the score which were usually only used in tragic pieces.

The nautical themes in the libretto led Arne to compose a sturdy score that includes a boisterous hunting song for the Squire.