James Worth Thornton (September 19, 1906 – February 6, 1983) was an American

businessman A businessperson, also referred to as a businessman or businesswoman, is an individual who has founded, owns, or holds shares in (including as an angel investor) a private-sector company. A businessperson undertakes activities (commercial ...

and scion of the politically and socially connected Thorntons of Indiana. Thornton also appeared in the journals of noted essayist Edmund Wilson.

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). 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. He graduated from the

Royal Military College of Canada The Royal Military College of Canada (), abbreviated in English as RMC and in French as CMR, is a Military academy#Canada, military academy and, since 1959, a List of universities in Canada#Ontario, degree-granting university of the Canadian ...

, Ontario.

Career

While working in Europe, Thornton earned a reputation as an international playboy: he was reportedly an excellent polo player and prominent in social circles. While working for a firm in

Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

, 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. Thornton joined the

Central Intelligence Agency The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA; ) is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States tasked with advancing national security through collecting and analyzing intelligence from around the world and ...

in 1950, retiring in 1958 upon marrying Martha Florence Armstrong.

Personal life

In 1931, Thornton married Elena Mumm Thornton Wilson, Helene-Marthe "Elena" Mumm von Schwarzenstein, a German-Russian-French aristocrat and partial heir to the Mumm champagne fortune. Her maternal relations (the Struve family) were prominent Russian diplomats and astronomers. Before their divorce, James and Elena were the parents of one son: Henry Hermann Mumm Thornton (born 1932), Shortly after marriage, James and Elena moved to

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

and, then, to

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, 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. In 1946, Elena and Edmund fled to

Reno, Nevada Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County, Nevada, Washoe County. Sitting in the High Eastern Sierra foothills, ...

, divorced their respective spouses, and married, creating a minor media sensation. Elena Mumm Thornton was Edmund Wilson’s fourth wife.

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,

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, and northern

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.See obituary at the Washington Post Thornton died on February 6, 1983.

Descendants

Thornton's grandchildren include Dr. Sandra Christine Thornton-Whitehouse (wife of

Sheldon Whitehouse Sheldon Whitehouse (born October 20, 1955) is an American lawyer and politician serving since 2007 as the junior United States senator from Rhode Island. A member of the Democratic Party, he served from 1993 to 1998 as the United States Att ...

, U.S. Senator from Rhode Island); Elena Thornton Kissel (wife of musician and producer, Michael Case Kissel, a direct descendant of

Cornelius Vanderbilt Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 – January 4, 1877), nicknamed "the Commodore", was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. After working with his father's business, Vanderbilt worked his way into lead ...

); Nina Rosalie McMann; and James Speno Mumm Thornton.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thornton, James Worth 1906 births 1983 deaths American socialites Royal Military College of Canada alumni Cox family