Thomas White was born on August 7, 1830, in Montreal, Quebec.

He was a journalist and politician. He was educated at the High School of Montreal, then worked at several jobs in Montreal and Peterborough, Ontario, before entering the printing trade with the Queen's Printer in Toronto in 1850. He relocated to Quebec City in 1851 when the office moved there. In 1852, he joined the editorial staff of the Canada Gazette. He returned to Peterborough in 1853 to found the Peterborough Review with his brother-in-law. He also served as reeve of Peterborough. From 1860 to 1864, he studied law with Sidney Smith in Cobourg but soon returned to journalism. In 1864, White moved to Hamilton to take over the operation of the Daily Spectator and Journal of Commerce. In 1870, with his brother Richard, they bought control of the Montreal Gazette, the leading Conservative newspaper in Canada. White was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1878 elections representing the riding of Cardwell and was re-elected in 1882 and 1887. He also served as Minister of the Interior (1887) and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs (1888).

In 1853, he married Eleanor Vine (1836–1934). He died on April 21, 1888, in Ottawa, Ontario.