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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC07367 |
| From Archive Folder | Documents Relating to 1815 |
| Title | William Thornton to William Thornton discussing European politics and war |
| Date | 24 June 1815 |
| Author | Thornton, William (1759-1828) |
| Recipient | Thornton, William |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | 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 1802. |
| Subjects | Battle War of 1812 Global History and Civics Foreign Affairs Washington, D.C. Wartime Pillaging and Destruction Politics Napoleonic Wars France |
| People | Thornton, William (1759-1828) Thornton, William (1763-1841) Bonaparte, Napoleon (1769-1821) |
| Place written | Washington, D.C. |
| Theme | War of 1812; Foreign Affairs |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |