THORNTON, Sir William, English soldier, born in England about 1775; died near Hanwell, England, 6 April, 1840. He was commissioned as ensign in the British army on 21 March, 1796, and had risen to the rank of major in August, 180'7, when he was appointed military secretary to Sir James H. Craig, lieutenant-governor of Lower Canada. He returned to England in 1811, and in 1813 was assigned to the command of the 85th regiment. He served in Spain and southern France, took part in the battle of the Hive, was afterward sent to this country, in May, 1814, commanded the brigade of light infantry that formed the advance-guard of General Robert Ross's expedition up the Chesapeake, and wits seriously wounded and made prisoner at Bladensburg. Being exchanged for Commander Joshua Barney, he went with the army that was sent against New Orleans in the following October, commanded the advance on the landing of the troops, took part in the chief operations, and in the general attack on the American lines commanded a detached force on the west bank of the Mississippi, and was severely wounded. He attained the rank of lieutenant-general in 1838.