Thornton was born to Lieutenant Colonel
John T. Thornton (
CSA) and Martha Jane (née Riddle) Thornton in 1853 in
Farmville, Virginia. James Thornton had four brothers, two of which had notable careers: William M. Thornton — Professor of Applied Mathematics, Chairman of the Faculty, and Dean of Engineering at the
University of Virginia; and Harrison R. Thornton — a teacher and missionary in
Cape Prince of Wales,
Alaska who was killed in 1893, the only missionary to Alaska slain by a native Alaskan. Thornton was the
valedictorian, 1871 graduate of Hampden–Sydney College and also the principal of Prince Edward Academy in
Worsham, Virginia from 1873 to 1881 and a professor of Latin at
Central University (now Eastern Kentucky University) from 1881 to 1883. Thornton later went on to be a professor of mathematics, an Instructor of Engineering, and the Treasurer at Hampden–Sydney College for a total of twenty-five years, starting in 1884. Known as "Uncle Jamie" to his students, Thornton was a beloved figure at the college and was presented with an award by the senior class of 1909 to honor Thornton's twenty-five years of service to the institution. Thornton's childhood home known as "Thornton House" (built in 1756) was located in present-day
Farmville, Virginia. After James's father, Colonel Thornton (also an alumnus of Hampden–Sydney) was killed in 1862 at the
Battle of Sharpsburg, General
Robert E. Lee made a brief condolence visit to the widow and children of Colonel Thornton at Thornton House on April 7, 1865 — in the midst of
Lee's Retreat. ==References==