Early Life, Family and Training In the quiet market town of Sudbury, United Kingdom, the story of Thomas Gainsborough began on 14 May 1727. He was the youngest son of John Gainsborough, a man who made his living as a weaver and wool merchant. While the family trade required a different kind of precision, young Thomas found himself drawn toward a different sort of creation. From a remarkably early age, he displayed an innate artistic s…