From 1868 to 1883, Thorn worked as a lawyer. In 1883, he was appointed as State Attorney and as Attorney General in 1899. Between 1885 and 1930, he was a member of the
Council of State of Luxembourg on multiple occasions. From 22 September 1888 to 26 October 1892, Thorn was Director General of Public Works. He was Director General of Justice and Public Works in Prime Minister
Mathias Mongenast's cabinet from 3 March to 6 November 1915. On 24 February 1916, Thorn became the 11th
Prime Minister of Luxembourg and was one of five governments that Luxembourg had during
World War I. His government was a coalition between the
Liberal League and
Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party. Thorn also held the position of Director General of Foreign Affairs and Justice in his government. Thorn's government attempted to curb inflation by instituting
price controls, but this produced a large black market. In June 1917, a mining strike started and was suppressed by the Germany Army. Director General of Agriculture Michel Welter lost a
motion of no confidence in the
Chamber of Deputies and Thorn's government lost its majority after the election of three independent deputies in 1917. The government resigned on 19 June 1917, A government led by
Léon Kauffman was formed to succeed him. ==Later life==