Freddie Thorne is a character in the British historical crime series ‘Peaky Blinders,’ which is set in Birmingham, England. Unfortunately, Freddie died in 1921 of “pestilence” (Spanish Flu) following the first season of the show. Freddie died at the age of 37, leaving behind his wife Ada Shelby, and son Karl Thorne.
Who Was Freddie Thorne?
Freddie was born in Birmingham in 1884 and lived at 26 South Street. He was friends with Tommy Shelby (the primary protagonist of Peaky Blinders) as a boy, and they served together in World War I.
As the two grew older, Freddie became a communist (supporting the Bolsheviks), and their friendship disintegrated as a result. Freddie began dating Tommy’s sister Ada in secret. Freddie and Ada secretly married and produced a baby together, naming him ‘Karl Thorne’ after the communist philosopher and leader Karl Marx.
Freddie had been driven into hiding during this time due to a police raid on the Peaky Blinders. He went into hiding to see his newborn son, which led to his arrest by authorities.
After fellow Peaky Blinders member Danny Whizz-Bang bribed one of his prison vanguards, Freddie escaped and was reunited with the gang. Unfortunately, Freddie died soon after from the Spanish Flu.
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What Is the ‘Peaky Blinders’?
From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, the ‘Peaky Blinders’ were a criminal organization in Small Heath, Birmingham, England. The ‘Peaky Blinders’ show revolves around them.
The gang is based on a real-life gang of the same name and same period, which formed out of Birmingham’s dismal economic conditions at the time. The gang was largely comprised of young males, and the gang in the television show reflects this as well.
The name ‘Peaky Blinders’ refers to the gang’s habit of sewing razor blades into their cap peaks as weapons. The Shelby family runs them, and they are largely involved in betting and the black market.
Who Are The Peaky Blinders’ Members?
The Peaky Blinders gang has a large number of members, including several Shelby family members. Though ‘Peaky Blinders’ was based on a real-life gang, the Shelby family is a work of fiction and is not thought to be based on any genuine families from the historical period.
Aunt Polly (gang matriarch), Thomas Shelby (gang leader), Arthur Shelby, Michael Gray, John Shelby, Finn Shelby, Curly, Johnny Dogs, Uncle Charlie, Digbeth Kid, Jeremiah Jesus, Isaiah Jesus, Danny Whizz-Bang, Bonnie Gold, Billy Kitchen, Scudboat, and Stephan Radischevski are the current Peaky Blinders gang members.
How Did Freddie Appear?
Freddie was a tall man with dark eyes and a clean, short beard. His hair was also dark, and he had it slicked down with a center parting most of the time.
Freddie frequently donned a dark suit and his characteristic trilby cap, as did many of the Peaky Blinders members. He wore the standard uniform when fighting in World War I (where he was a sergeant).
How Did Freddie Thorne Die?
The Peaky Blinders group is shown at Freddie’s funeral at the opening of Season 2 of ‘Peaky Blinders’. It is believed that Freddie died of “pestilence,” which is most likely the Spanish Flu. The Spanish Influenza epidemic ran from 1918 to the early 1920s, and it claimed countless lives around the world.
The overall number of individuals killed by the virus is estimated to be around 500 million (almost one-third of the world’s population at the time).
Did Freddie Have Children?
Though the show ‘Peaky Blinders’ focuses mostly on the Shelby family, Freddie had his own family who played an important role in his life.
Irene Thorne was his mother, while his father is unknown – or at least unverified. He married Ada Shelby, his boyhood crush and Tommy Shelby’s sister, and the couple has a son, Karl Thorne.
Freddie saved Tommy’s life while they were serving together in World War I, and the two became good friends. This friendship deteriorated after Freddie became a communist, yet it did not prevent Freddie from marrying Ada.
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In Which Episodes Did Freddie Appear?
Freddie appeared in every episode of Peaky Blinders Season 1. His burial is included in the first episode of Season 2, and Freddie does not appear in any subsequent episodes. There are some admirers who believe that Freddie isn’t genuinely dead, although these rumors have yet to be proven or rejected.
In conclusion, Freddie Thorne is an interesting character in the Birmingham-set historical crime series ‘Peaky Blinders. The series’ character, born in 1884, went from Tommy Shelby’s childhood pal to a communist enthusiast and hidden admirer of Ada, Tommy’s sister.
The 1921 Spanish Flu epidemic killed him at 37. The show honors Freddie’s wife, Ada Shelby, and son, Karl Thorne. While he doesn’t appear in later seasons, his influence on ‘Peaky Blinders’ adds depth and complexity.
