William Thornton

Lieutenant-General Sir William Thornton (1779 – 30 March 1840) was a British Army officer who served as Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.

Early life Thornton was born around 1779, the eldest of two sons born to William Thornton, Esq. of Muff, near Derry, and of Armagh, who died in 1792 at the age of 51, and Anne Thornton, the daughter of Perrott James, Esq. of Magilligan. His younger brother was Robert Innes Thornton (died 1866), a soldier with the 21st Light Dragoons.

Thornton became aide-de-camp to Lieutenant-General Earl Ludlow, commander of the Kent military district in Spring 1806. Promoted to major on 13 November 1806, he transferred to the Royal York Rangers. He served as acting commanding officer of the regiment in Guernsey in Spring 1807 and then became aide-de-camp to Craig in his capacity as Governor General of British North America later in the year. Promoted to be brevet lieutenant-colonel on 28 January 1808, he became inspecting field-officer of militia in Canada in Spring 1808. and assistant military secretary to the commander-in-chief, the Duke of York later that year. In January 1813 he became commanding officer of the 85th Regiment of Foot and saw action during the Peninsular War.

Thornton led the Light Brigade at the Battle of Bladensburg in August 1814. The Americans took him prisoner, but released him in October 1814.

Thornton was then involved in the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815, attacked and overwhelmed the American line.

Promoted to major-general on 27 May 1825, Thornton became Lieutenant Governor of Jersey in 1830. He was promoted further to lieutenant-general on 28 June 1838.