John R. Thornton
Encyclopedia
John Randolph Thornton was a United States Senator from Louisiana
.
in Iberville Parish), he moved with his parents to Rapides Parish in 1853. He attended Parker Seminary (Pineville
), the McGruder Institute (Baton Rouge) and the Louisiana Seminary (afterwards the Louisiana State University
) at Pineville until 1863. He enlisted in the Confederate States Army
and served until the close of the Civil War
in Company B, Second Louisiana Cavalry. He engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1877, studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1877 and commenced practice in Rapides Parish. He was judge of Rapides Parish from 1878 to 1880 and a delegate to the State constitutional convention
in 1898. From 1904 to 1910 he was a member of the board of Supervisors of the State university.
Thornton was appointed as a Democrat
to the U.S. Senate on August 27, 1910, and was subsequently elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel D. McEnery
, serving from December 7, 1910, to March 3, 1915; he was not a candidate for reelection to the Senate. While in the Senate he was chairman of the Committee on Fisheries (Sixty-third Congress). He was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson a member of the Board of Ordnance and Fortification and served from 1915 to 1917, and resumed the practice of law in Alexandria, Louisiana; he died there in 1917. Interment was in Rapides Cemetery, Pineville.
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
Biography
Born on Notoway plantation (near White CastleWhite Castle, Louisiana
White Castle a town in Iberville Parish, Louisiana, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,946. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:White Castle is located at ....
in Iberville Parish), he moved with his parents to Rapides Parish in 1853. He attended Parker Seminary (Pineville
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
), the McGruder Institute (Baton Rouge) and the Louisiana Seminary (afterwards the Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
) at Pineville until 1863. He enlisted in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
and served until the close of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in Company B, Second Louisiana Cavalry. He engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1877, studied law, was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1877 and commenced practice in Rapides Parish. He was judge of Rapides Parish from 1878 to 1880 and a delegate to the State constitutional convention
Louisiana Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Louisiana is the cornerstone of Louisiana state law ensuring the rights of individuals, describing the distribution and power of state officials and local government, establishes the state and city civil service systems, creates and defines the operation of a state...
in 1898. From 1904 to 1910 he was a member of the board of Supervisors of the State university.
Thornton was appointed as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the U.S. Senate on August 27, 1910, and was subsequently elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel D. McEnery
Samuel D. McEnery
Samuel Douglas McEnery served as the 30th Governor of Louisiana from 1881 until 1888, and as a United States Senator from 1897 until 1910....
, serving from December 7, 1910, to March 3, 1915; he was not a candidate for reelection to the Senate. While in the Senate he was chairman of the Committee on Fisheries (Sixty-third Congress). He was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson a member of the Board of Ordnance and Fortification and served from 1915 to 1917, and resumed the practice of law in Alexandria, Louisiana; he died there in 1917. Interment was in Rapides Cemetery, Pineville.