Allegiance United Kingdom Service/branch British Army | Died April 6, 1854 Name Charles Thornton Rank Lieutenant-general | |
Buried at St. Mary's Churchyard, Paddington, England | ||
Place of burial England, United Kingdom | ||
Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Wade Thornton, KCH (1 June 1764 – 6 April 1854) was a British military officer who served during the American Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
Life
Thornton was born in Northumberland County, Virginia, to Presley Thornton and Charlotte Belson. His father was a wealthy and politically powerful planter who was descended from William Thornton, who arrived from England before 1649. His father died when he was of an early age and his mother moved the family to England before the start of the Revolutionary War. Thornton entered the King's Army at the rank of lieutenant in 1779. Thornton served in the lowlands in 1782 being wounded at the Battle of Farmars and losing his arm during the Battle of Lannoy.
He rose to the rank of captain in 1793, lieutenant-colonel in 1811, colonel in 1825, major-general in 1837 and finally lieutenant-general in 1846. Thornton was knighted by William IV in 1831. He was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Hull in 1816.
Thornton had a close relationship with the British Royal family over his life, serving under the Duke of York and saving the Duke's life during the Walcheren Campaign in 1809. He was equerry to the Duke of Cumberland from 1813 until his death and had a close relationship with George IV. Thornton was among the chief mourners at the funeral of H.R.H. Princess Sophia.
Thornton died on 6 April 1854 in his private apartment at St. James' Palace. He was buried in St. Marys Churchyard, Paddington, next to the grave of his mother.