THORNTON, William (?1712-69), of Cattal, nr. York.

Thornton, whose father had been knighted for presenting an address from Yorkshire on the Union in 1707, raised at his own expense a company of foot in the Forty-five, taking part in the battle of Falkirk. Returned as a government supporter for York in 1747, he went into opposition in 1751, speaking against the Administration on the navy estimates, 23 Nov., the army, 28 Nov., and the land tax, 5 Dec.Walpole, Mems. Geo. II, i. 213, 218. In 1752 he published a pamphlet entitled The Counterpoise: being thoughts on a militia and a standing army, following this by a bill for improving the militia, which did not get beyond the report stage.C. Collyer, ‘The Rockinghams and Yorkshire Politics, 1742-61’, Thoresby Misc. xii (1954), 371-2. He did not stand in 1754 and died 10 July 1769.