John Randolph THORNTON, Congress, LA (1846-1917)

THORNTON, John Randolph, a Senator from Louisiana; born on Notoway plantation, near Bayou Goula, Iberville Parish, La., August 25, 1846; moved with his parents to Rapides Parish, La., in 1853; attended Parker Seminary, Pineville, La., the McGruder Institute, Baton Rouge, La., and the Louisiana Seminary (afterwards the State university) at Pineville until 1863; enlisted in the Confederate Army and served until the close of the Civil War in Company B, Second Louisiana Cavalry; engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1877; studied law; admitted to the bar in 1877 and commenced practice in Rapides Parish; judge of Rapides Parish 1878-1880; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1898; member of the board of supervisors of the State university 1904-1910; appointed as a Democrat to the United States Senate on August 27, 1910, and subsequently elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel D. McEnery and served from December 7, 1910, to March 3, 1915; was not a candidate for reelection to the Senate; chairman, Committee on Fisheries (Sixty-third Congress); appointed by President Woodrow Wilson a member of the Board of Ordnance and Fortification and served from 1915 to 1917; resumed the practice of law in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, La., and died there December 28, 1917; interment in Rapides Cemetery, Pineville, La.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present