Thornton, William, 1759-1828

William Thornton, architect, inventor, and public official, was born in the Virgin Islands on May 20, 1759, of English parents. He came to the United States in 1787 and became a citizen in 1788. On September 12, 1794 Thornton was appointed one of the commissioners of the new federal city of Washington. He championed his own design for the Capitol and the north wing had been constructed in accordance with his ideas by the time Congress removed to Washington in 1800. In 1802 Congress abolished the board of commissioners and Thornton lost his official connection with the Capitol. Thomas Jefferson, however, appointed him clerk in the State Department, in charge of patents. Thornton is credited with having saved the Patent Office from destruction on the capture of Washington in 1814. He continued in charge of the Patent Office until his death on March 28, 1828.