Draft:Harry I. Thornton Sr.

Harry Innes Thornton Sr. (1797 – 1861) was an Alabama lawyer, legislator, and judge who served on the Supreme Court of Alabama from 1834 to 1836.^[1]

Born in Alabama, Thornton was a judge and member of the Alabama Legislature, residing in Eutaw, Alabama.^[2] By 1851, Thornton moved to California and was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to the federal Public Land Commission to address property ownership in California.^[3]

"In 1834, Judge Taylor resigned and was succeeded by Harry I. Thornton". "In 1836, Arthur F. Hopkins succeeded Judge Thornton".^[4]

Thornton represented Green County, Alabama, in the Alabama General Assembly in 1840, 1841, and 1842.^[5]^: 751

HARRY I. THORNTON was a native of Virginia, but in early life removed to Kentucky, where, it is believed, he held an office under the administration of Mr. J. Q. Adams, probably that of United States District Attorney. He married a sister of Hon. John J. Crittenden, while the latter gentleman married an aunt of Mr. Thornton. Thus they were doubly connected by family ties, which strengthened and harmonized their political attachments, both being Whigs, and the warm personal friends of Mr. Clay.
I have not ascertained what year Mr. Thornton came to Alabama. He settled in Huntsville, and more than thirty years ago was elected a Judge of the Supreme Court. After retiring from the office, he changed his residence to Mobile, where he practiced law for several years. Thence he removed to Eutaw, and in 1840 was elected a Senator in the Legislature, over John J. Winston, Esq., to fill the unexpired term of Thomas Riddle, Esq., deceased. The high character of Mr. Thornton as a jurist induced the President of the Senate to waive the usual party selection, and he was made Chairman of the Judiciary Committee at a time of intense party excitement. His reports fully justified the wisdom of his appointment. In debate he was probably the strongest man in the Senate. He had all the qualities of a dignified and effective speaker. He declined being a candidate for reelection, and pursued the practice of his profession with great favor and success.
Judge Thornton was a delegate to the National Whig Convention at Baltimore in May, 1844, and was a Vice-President of that body. He engaged in the canvass for Mr. Clay with the full belief that he would be elected President. The defeat of his favorite statesman greatly depressed his spirits. During the administration of Mr. Fillmore, from July, 1850, to March, 1853, he was appointed by the President a commissioner to investigate land titles in California. In a few years thereafter he died. He was a gentleman of elevated, princely character, and was in the communion of the Presbyterian Church. To know him was to love him. Thousands in Alabama will cherish his memory with affection.^[5]^{: 169–170}

His son, Harry I. Thornton, became a leading Democratic politician in California.

References

^ "Members of the Supreme Court". Judiciary of Alabama. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
^ "Alabama-Whig Convention". New-York Daily Tribune. Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. January 19, 1844. p. 2. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
^ "California Land Commissioner". American Telegraph (Wash, DC). Library of Congress Historic Newspapers. September 16, 1851. p. 2. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
^ "Alabama Appellate Courts: History of Supreme Court". Judiciary of Alabama. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
^ ^a ^b William Garrett, Reminiscences of Public Men in Alabama: For Thirty Years (1872).