John Randolph Thornton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator fromLouisiana | |
| In office December 7, 1910 – March 3, 1915 | |
| Appointed by | Jared Y. Sanders Sr., August 27, 1910 |
| Preceded by | Samuel D. McEnery |
| Succeeded by | Robert F. Broussard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1846-08-25)August 25, 1846 |
| Died | December 28, 1917(1917-12-28) (aged 71) Alexandria, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Resting place | Rapides Cemetery Pineville, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1863–1865 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit |  2nd Louisiana Cavalry |
John Randolph Thornton (August 25, 1846 – December 28, 1917) was aUnited States senator fromLouisiana.
Born on Notoway plantation (nearWhite Castle, Iberville Parish), he moved with his parents toRapides Parish in 1853. He attended Parker Seminary (Pineville), the McGruder Institute (Baton Rouge) and the Louisiana Seminary (afterwards theLouisiana State University) at Pineville until 1863. He enlisted in theConfederate States Army and served until the close of theCivil War in Company B, Second Louisiana Cavalry.[1][2]
He engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1877, studied law, was admitted to thebar in 1877 and commenced practice in Rapides Parish. He was judge of Rapides Parish from 1878 to 1880 and a delegate to theState constitutional convention in 1898. From 1904 to 1910 he was a member of theboard of Supervisors of the State university.[1]
Thornton was appointed as aDemocrat to the U.S. Senate on August 27, 1910, and was subsequently elected[2] to fill the vacancy caused by the death ofSamuel 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.[1]
| U.S. Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 3) from Louisiana December 7, 1910 – March 3, 1915 Served alongside:Murphy J. Foster,Joseph E. Ransdell | Succeeded by |
| Class 2 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||
