13 August 1805

Thornton, William, 1759-1828

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Document acknowledging William Eaton]

Written in a flowerly, religious tone by William Thornton, the architect who designed the U.S. Capitol building who was running the U.S. Patent Office in 1805. Given to William Eaton, former American commander of naval vessels sent to the Barbary states in 1804 and 1805. Presented to Eaton after his adventures with Prince Sidi Hamet, the Sultan of Tripoli who was disposed by his younger brother Yusuf Karamanli in 1804. Eaton had proposed to help Hamet regain power, but after a series of sensational battles a diplomatic payment was made to preserve the peace and Hamet retired to Syracuse on…

GLC06304.01

1815/06/24

Thornton, William, 1759-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Thornton

Discusses British General Thornton's valor and wounds received at the Battle of Bladensburg and the Battle of New Orleans. Also critically discusses European politics and war, and assesses Napoleon at length. Notes that Thornton's capture and burning of Washington, D.C., may have saved the capital, since "Great exertions were repeatedly made in different years to remove the seat of government" but now Congress was determined to repair the damage. The author, also named William Thornton, had served as the architect of the United States capitol building, which General Thornton burned, until…

GLC07367