THORNTON, James Shepard, naval officer, born in Merrimack, New Hampshire, 25 February, 1826: died in German-town, Pennsylvania, 14 May, 1875. He entered the navy as a, midshipman, 15 January, 1841, served in the sloop John Adams" in the Gulf squadron during the Mexican war, and became a passed midshipman, 10 August, 1846. He resigned from the navy, 9 May, 1850, but was reinstated in 1854, promoted to master, 14 September, 1855, and to lieutenant the next day. During the civil war he served in the brig "Bainbridge " on the Atlantic coast in 1861, was executive officer of the flag-ship " Hartford "at the passage of the forts and batteries below New Orleans, and in the engagement with the Confederate fleet, with the ram " Arkansas " and the batteries at Vicksburg, during which he served with great credit. He was promoted to lieutenant-commander, 16 July, 1862, and had charge of the steam gunboat " Winona" in engagements at Mobile, where he made a reconnaissance of Fort Gaines in sounding approaches under fire, and destroyed several Confederate steamers. He was the executive officer of the "Kearsarge" in the fight with the " Alabama," off Cherbourg, and was given a vote of thanks, and advanced thirty numbers in his grade for his gallantry in this victory. He served at the navy-yard at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1866-'7, was promoted to commander, 25 July, 1866, and commissioned captain, 24 May, 1872.