Edward Thornton (diplomat)

Sir Edward Thornton KCB (13 July 1817 – 26 January 1906) was a prominent British diplomat, who held posts in Latin America, Turkey, Russia, and served for fourteen years as Minister to the United States.[1]

Contents

Early career

Thornton was born in London, the son of Sir Edward Thornton (1766–1852), also a diplomat, who for many years held the post of British Minister to Portugal.[2]

Thornton and was educated at King's College London, and at Pembroke College, Cambridge.[3][4][5] He entered the diplomatic service as attaché to the mission at Turin in 1842, filled the same position in Mexico in 1845, and was made Secretary of Legation in that Capital in 1853.[6][7] Thornton did much to forward the conclusion of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. In 1852, he was appointed Secretary of Legation at Buenos Aires, and chargé d'affaires to Uruguay in 1854.[8] He was appointed Minister to the Argentine Republic in 1859, and to Brazil in 1865.[9][10]

War of the triple alliance

At the behest of the British government, Thornton helped instigate the War of the Triple Alliance (also known as the Paraguayan War).[11] Thornton's role consisted of encouraging the leaders of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, during their war against Paraguay, while British banks provided the three nations with funding for their military campaigns.[12] It was the goal of the British government to see Paraguay opened to expanded British trade and investment.[13]

The war lasted nearly six years (1864/5–1870), and resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 Argentinians, 30,000 Brazilians, and more than 250,000 Paraguayans.[14][15] The war left Paraguay utterly devastated.[16] Paraguay's army was destroyed, nearly half its population killed, while the remainder suffered from malnutrition, disease, oppression and even torture at the hands of Francisco Solano López.[17]

Minister to the United States

Thornton's lengthiest assignment was as Minister to the United States, a position he held for fourteen years (1867–1881).[18]

In 1871, Thornton served as a member of the commission on the Alabama Claims, and was appointed Privy Councilor.[19] Thornton served in 1873 as an arbitrator in the commission on the Mexican and United States Claims.[20][21] He was appointed Ambassador at St. Petersburg in 1881.[22][23] For his services Thornton was made a knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Bath in 1883.[24][25] A year later Thornton received his last appointment, Ambassador at Constantinople, a position he held for three years before retiring.[26][27]

Thornton died at his London residence, 5 Tedworth Sq., after what was described as a lengthy illness.[28]

References

  1. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF
  2. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF
  3. ^ Thornton, Edward in Venn, J. & J. A., Alumni Cantabrigienses, Cambridge University Press, 10 vols, 1922–1958.
  4. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF
  5. ^ Henry Robert Addison, Charles Henry Oakes, William John Lawson, Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen, ed. Who's Who: An Annual Biographical Dictionary, Page 1617 - London: Adam and Charles Black, 1904 http://books.google.com/books?id=SmZLAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA1617&dq="edward+thornton"+uraguay&ei=FztiSozgH4PYlASKnbS-Dg
  6. ^ Henry Robert Addison, Charles Henry Oakes, William John Lawson, Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen, ed. Who's Who: An Annual Biographical Dictionary, Page 1617 - London: Adam and Charles Black, 1904 http://books.google.com/books?id=SmZLAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA1617&dq="edward+thornton"+uraguay&ei=FztiSozgH4PYlASKnbS-Dg
  7. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF
  8. ^ Henry Robert Addison, Charles Henry Oakes, William John Lawson, Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen, ed. Who's Who: An Annual Biographical Dictionary, Page 1617 - London: Adam and Charles Black, 1904 http://books.google.com/books?id=SmZLAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA1617&dq="edward+thornton"+uraguay&ei=FztiSozgH4PYlASKnbS-Dg
  9. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF
  10. ^ Henry Robert Addison, Charles Henry Oakes, William John Lawson, Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen, ed. Who's Who: An Annual Biographical Dictionary, Page 1617 - London: Adam and Charles Black, 1904 http://books.google.com/books?id=SmZLAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA1617&dq="edward+thornton"+uraguay&ei=FztiSozgH4PYlASKnbS-Dg
  11. ^ Katra, William H. The Argentine Generation of 1837: Echeverria, Alberdi, Sarmiento, Mitre, page 261. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1996
  12. ^ Katra, William H. The Argentine Generation of 1837: Echeverria, Alberdi, Sarmiento, Mitre, page 261. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1996
  13. ^ Katra, William H. The Argentine Generation of 1837: Echeverria, Alberdi, Sarmiento, Mitre, page 261. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1996
  14. ^ War of the Triple Alliance. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/442711/War-of-the-Triple-Alliance
  15. ^ Katra, William H. The Argentine Generation of 1837: Echeverria, Alberdi, Sarmiento, Mitre, page 261. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1996
  16. ^ War of the Triple Alliance. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/442711/War-of-the-Triple-Alliance
  17. ^ War of the Triple Alliance. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/442711/War-of-the-Triple-Alliance
  18. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF
  19. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF
  20. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF
  21. ^ Henry Robert Addison, Charles Henry Oakes, William John Lawson, Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen, ed. Who's Who: An Annual Biographical Dictionary, Page 1617 - London: Adam and Charles Black, 1904 http://books.google.com/books?id=SmZLAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA1617&dq="edward+thornton"+uraguay&ei=FztiSozgH4PYlASKnbS-Dg
  22. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF
  23. ^ Henry Robert Addison, Charles Henry Oakes, William John Lawson, Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen, ed. Who's Who: An Annual Biographical Dictionary, Page 1617 - London: Adam and Charles Black, 1904 http://books.google.com/books?id=SmZLAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA1617&dq="edward+thornton"+uraguay&ei=FztiSozgH4PYlASKnbS-Dg
  24. ^ Henry Robert Addison, Charles Henry Oakes, William John Lawson, Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen, ed. Who's Who: An Annual Biographical Dictionary, Page 1617 - London: Adam and Charles Black, 1904 http://books.google.com/books?id=SmZLAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA1617&dq="edward+thornton"+uraguay&ei=FztiSozgH4PYlASKnbS-Dg
  25. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF
  26. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF
  27. ^ Henry Robert Addison, Charles Henry Oakes, William John Lawson, Douglas Brooke Wheelton Sladen, ed. Who's Who: An Annual Biographical Dictionary, Page 1617 - London: Adam and Charles Black, 1904 http://books.google.com/books?id=SmZLAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA1617&dq="edward+thornton"+uraguay&ei=FztiSozgH4PYlASKnbS-Dg
  28. ^ "Death List of a Day. Sir Edward Thornton." The New York Times, January 27, 1906. Pg. 9. Accessed: July 18, 2009. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9807E6DF173EE733A25754C2A9679C946797D6CF

External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Sir Frederick Bruce		 British Minister to the United States
1867–1881		 Succeeded by
Lionel Sackville-West