Frank Thornton

Frank Thornton (1891–1965) was an Irish republican active in the Irish revolutionary period.

He was born in Drogheda the eldest of eight children. The family emigrated to Liverpool where he joined the Gaelic League, the Irish Republican Brotherhood and the Irish Volunteers. Based at 3 Crow Street, Dublin, the IRA Intelligence Staff included of the Director of Intelligence Michael Collins, the Deputy Director of Intelligence Liam Tobin, 2nd Deputy Director of Intelligence Tom Cullen, and Third Deputy Director of Intelligence Thornton. There were six I.R.A. men involved in the shooting included Thornton and Tobin, both of whom travelled from Dublin.

On Bloody Sunday (1920), the Cairo Gang Assassinations were enacted. The killings were planned to coincide with a Gaelic football match between Dublin and Tipperary, because the large crowds around Dublin would allow the members of Collins' Squad to move about more easily, and make it more difficult for the British to detect them before and after the attack. Through 2nd Lt J.C. Reynolds of F Company Auxiliary Division, Collins was provided with information on the Auxiliaries responsible for the killing of Peadar Clancy, Dick McKee and Conor Clune. Frank Thornton, as one of Collins intelligence staff, was to receive information and photographs of the "murder gang", not only of F Company but of Q Company and a number of others also.

Irish Civil War (1922-23)

Frank Thornton supported the December 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty. He was appointed a colonel commandant in the National Army the following year while taking charge at the Criminal Investigation Department at Oriel House, Westland Row.

Army Mutiny

On 7 March 1924, a representative of the Irish Republican Army Organisation (IRAO) handed a demand to end demobilisation to W. T. Cosgrave. The ultimatum was signed by senior army officers, Major-General Liam Tobin and Colonel Charles Dalton. Thornton and Cullen were also involved. He resigned after the army mutiny. by amongst others, Thornton while he was still in prison. Thornton became assistant manager in 1924, manager in 1954, and general manager in 1959

During the Emergency (1939–45), Thornton re-enlisted in the Army, serving as a captain. He was later life president of the 2nd Battalion, Dublin Brigade, Old IRA.

When Simon Donnelly was elected in March 1940 to Córas na Poblachta as president of a central committee of fifteen members, other leaders included Frank Thornton.