William Thornton (1712/13–1769) of Cattal was an English politician, Member of Parliament for York, described also as a "celebrated though eccentric sportsman".
He raised a militia troop to oppose the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, and gained royal favour.
[1][2] He was the son of Sir William Thornton of Yorkshire and his wife Elizabeth, born at Netherton.
[2][3] He attended Mr Jackson's school in York, was admitted to St John's College, Cambridge in 1731, at age 18.
[2] At the time of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, Thornton raised at his own expense the "Yorkshire Blues" to fight the troops of the Young Pretender, and took part in the battle of Falkirk.