James Richard Thornton (11 January 1861 – 1 March 1916) was an English cricketer.
Thornton was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast.
Thornton made three first-class appearances for Sussex.
He made his debut against the touring Australians in 1880 at the County Cricket Ground, Hove, while the following season he made a second appearance against Hampshire at the same ground.
[2] With the ball, he took a single wicket,[3] that of Hampshire's Russell Bencraft.