Sophie Crossthorn
Her Grace Madam Sophie Crossthorn DGCM BA | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Duchess of Sheaffia | |
| Assumed office 5 October 2020 | |
| Monarchs | Adam I |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 14 October 2020 – 25 October 2021 | |
| Monarchs | Adam I |
| Preceded by | Emperor Adam I |
| Succeeded by | Lord Saunders |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sophie Thornton |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom, Empire of Adammia |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Spouse | Lord Kurtis Crossthorn |
| Residence | Sheaffia |
| Alma mater | University of Birmingham |
Her Grace Lady Madam Sophie Jane Crossthorn, 1st Duchess of Sheaffia DGCM BA is an Adammic politician and colonial governor who formerly served as Minister of Citizenship and Information as a member of the Liberal-Moderate Party, before defecting to the Red Green Alliance and becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs. She is the current Duchess of Sheaffia and sits on the Ruling Council as an independent.
Non-micronational life
Crossthorn was born Sophie Thornton in 1996. She is a graduate of the University of Birmingham and is presently a district councillor of the Liberal Democrats.
Lady Thornton became engaged to marry her partner, Lord Kurtis Crossland, Count of East Sheaffia, on 23 January 2023. They were married on 31 August 2024 at a ceremony attended by the Emperor and several other Adammic citizens.
Micronational career
Thornton was introduced to Adammia by Emperor Adam I via the University of Birmingham Liberal Democrats in 2017. In June 2017, she was made a dame, and she became a honourary citizen in June 2018. In October 2018, she ran for Delegate of the Colonies on behalf of the new Liberal-Moderate Party, but lost to Storm Party candidate Sir Juliano Saunders. Subsequently she was appointed Duchess of Greater Tytannia, and became a backbench member of the Ruling Council.
In October 2019, she stood in the first ever general election to the House of Citizens, at the #4 position on the Lib-Mod candidate list. She was elected, and was subsequently appointed as Minister of Citizenship and Information in the government of Lord Charles Michael.
In September 2020, she moved to the new province of Sheaffia, of which she was appointed Duchess. Her then-partner, Lord Billy Thompson, leader of the Red Green Alliance, persuaded her to defect from the Lib-Mods to the RGA. She subsequently stood at the #4 position on the RGA list in the 2020 general election and was not elected, but the party appointed her to the House to fill the seat vacated by Alex Nettle after he resigned hours after the result was declared. She subsequently became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Second Saunders Cabinet.
After the resignation of Lord Billy Thompson as Deputy Prime Minister and RGA leader, Thornton and her remaining RGA colleague, Lady Ems Simpson, decided to dissolve the party rather than elect a new leader. Now an independent, she declined to run in the 2021 general election, although she continued to govern Sheaffia, which was a colony rather than a province between January and June 2022. The house of her partner, Kurtis Crossland, whom she had moved in with, was annexed in June 2022 as the new location of Sheaffia and it was restored to provincial status. She has sat as an independent member of the Ruling Council since this time, but does not regularly engage with front-line politics. On 19 February 2023 she was awarded Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Meerkat, Adammia's highest chivalric honour, in recognition of her close friendship with the Emperor.
Honours
Chivalric
Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Meerkat
Academic
Bachelor of Arts (International Relations and Political Science, University of Birmingham)
Sophie Crossthorn House of Thornton
| ||
| Noble titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lady Hermione Peace |
Duchess of Greater Tytannia 14 October 2018 - 4 October 2020 |
Succeeded by Lord Paul McKenna |
| Preceded by Office established |
Duchess of Sheaffia 4 October 2020 - present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Lady Amity Gilmour as Minister of Patriotism |
Minister of Citizenship and Information 29 October 2019 - 14 October 2020 |
Succeeded by Lady Anna Worthington |
| Preceded by HIM Emperor Adam I |
Minister of Foreign Affairs 14 October 2020 - 25 October 2021 |
Succeeded by Lord Juliano Saunders |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Vacant |
University of Birmingham Liberal Democrats Campaigns Officer 2015 - August 2017 |
Succeeded by Alex Waters |
| Preceded by Lord Callum Gurr |
Chair of University of Birmingham Liberal Democrats 8 March 2018 - 21 March 2019 |
Succeeded by Lady Hermione Peace |
| Preceded by Conor McKenzie |
Chair of English Young Liberals 2015 - 2016 |
Succeeded by Declan Stones |
| Preceded by Callum Littlemore |
Young Liberals Campaigns Officer 30 March 2020 - 26 July 2020 |
Succeeded by Joel Punwani |
See also
Empire of Adammia
Ruling Council
