James Worth Thornton (September 19, 1906 – February 6, 1983, Virginia)[1] was an American businessman and scion of the politically and socially connected Thorntons of Indiana. Thornton also appeared in the journals of noted essayist Edmund Wilson.[2]

Early life

Thornton was born into a prominent family in the railroad business and enjoyed a privileged childhood. He was the son of Sir Henry Worth Thornton and Virginia Blair (daughter of banker and steel magnate George Dike Blair).[3]

He was a second cousin of silver screen actress Edna Goodrich and Elcar Interim President Arthur Martin Graffis. His cousin, Helen Thornton Geer, was a prominent librarian and researcher. Through his maternal line, he was related to the powerful Cox family: billionaire heiresses Anne Cox Chambers and Barbara Cox Anthony were his second cousins.[4]

He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada, Ontario.

Career

While working in Europe, Thornton earned a reputation as an international playboy:[5] he was reportedly an excellent polo player and prominent in social circles. While working for a firm in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1931, he married Baroness Elena Mumm von Schwarzenstein. After their marriage, Thornton served as Vice-President of the Mumm family's American Incorporation.[6]

Thornton joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1950, retiring in 1958 upon marrying Martha Florence Armstrong.

Personal life

In 1931 Thornton married Helene-Marthe "Elena" Mumm von Schwarzenstein,[7] a German-Russian-French aristocrat and partial heir to the Mumm champagne fortune.[8] Her maternal relations (the Struve family[9]) were prominent Russian diplomats and astronomers.[10] Before their divorce, James and Elena were the parents of one son:

Shortly after marriage, James and Elena moved to Montreal and, then, to New York City, where Elena served as an assistant editor for Town & Country (magazine). While working as an editor, Elena met Edmund Wilson, the prominent author and critic, and fell in love.[12] In 1946, Elena and Edmund fled to Reno, Nevada, divorced their respective spouses, and married, creating a minor media sensation. Elena Mumm Thornton was Edmund Wilson’s fourth wife.[13]

Second marriage

In 1958, Thornton married Martha Florence Armstrong, a granddaughter of the 1st Baronet Armstrong. After their marriage, the Thorntons moved frequently, living in New York City, Spain, Bermuda, Florida, and northern Virginia.[14]

Thornton died on February 6, 1983.

Descendants

Thornton's grandchildren include Dr. Sandra Christine Thornton-Whitehouse (wife of Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator from Rhode Island);[15] Elena Thornton Kissel (wife of musician and producer, Michael Case Kissel, a direct descendant of Cornelius Vanderbilt);[16][17] Nina Rosalie McMann; and James Speno Mumm Thornton.

Notes

  1. ^ Kussart, S. The History of the Fifteenth Ward of the City of Pittsburgh. Suburban Printing Company, Bellevue, PA; 1925.
  2. ^ Toibin, Colm (4 September 2005). "'Edmund Wilson': American Critic". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  3. ^ Barriger, John Walker. "Sir Henry Thornton: Pioneer." (speech) Delivered During The 1944 Maine Dinner Of The Newcomen Society
  4. ^ Kussart, S. The History of the Fifteenth Ward of the City of Pittsburgh; Suburban Printing Co., 1925
  5. ^ Castronovo, David and Janet Groth. Critic in Love: A Romantic Biography of Edmund Wilson. Shoemaker & Hoard Publishers, 2005
  6. ^ The Trade-mark Reporter by The United States Trademark Association 1936. (see page 373)
  7. ^ Society listing. TIME. Monday, Sept. 14, 1931
  8. ^ See Cape Cod History site: capecodhistory.us/genealogy/wellfleet/i2154.htm
  9. ^ See 1912 listing for Tout-Paris: Annuaire de la Societe parisienne (Names and addresses of ‘society’)
  10. ^ "JAMES THORNTON MARRIES.; Son of Canadian Rall Head Weds Elena Mumm von Schwarzenstein". The New York Times. 6 September 1931. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  11. ^ Elena Wilson Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
  12. ^ Kiernan, Frances. Seeing Mary Plain: A Life of Mary McCarthy. W.W. Norton & Company. 2000.
  13. ^ Meyers, Jeffrey, Edmund Wilson: a biography, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1995
  14. ^ See obituary at the Washington Post
  15. ^ "Sandra Thornton, a Ph.D. Candidate, Weds Sheldon Whitehouse, a Lawyer". The New York Times. 21 September 1986. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  16. ^ "DAPHNE S. THORNTON TO MARRY IN JUNE". The New York Times. 21 April 1985. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Elena Thornton Wed to Musician". The New York Times. 30 June 1985. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
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