William Thornton Re-examined by Bob Arnebeck

  Chapter 10: The General’s Houses    Plaque in Upper Senate Park A plaque in Upper Senate Park just north of the Capitol credits Dr. William Thornton for designing George Washington’s “two brick dwellings.” Glenn Brown based that claim and that Thornton superintended their construction on "the letters of Washington." Brown didn't quote or cite any letters. A hundred years late, C. M. Harris did. In August 1798, Thornton gave a "plan" to Thomas Peter who, on August 26, then passed it on to the General.  Harris and the editors of Washington's Papers have deduced that the plan in question had to be a design for the General’s houses. If it was, the General made a quick study of it. He s ent it back to Peter the next day with only this comment: "Doctr Thorntons plan is returned with thanks; our love to Patsy." She was the Custis sister who married Peter who was the son of Robert Peter who had owned Peter’s Hill when the General had bought lo...

Table of Contents  being rewritten    Epilogue: John Quincy Adams' Diary After returning from diplomatic missions in 1801, John Quincy Adams was sent to US Senate by the Massachusetts legislature. When he met Thornton in a social setting on November 1, 1801, he briefly noted that he “was by turns ingenious and humorous, but all the time very talkative.” He noted calling on the Thorntons, socially as well as to get a document notarized. There was an annual dinner party and a ball at the Thorntons. Not until Adams’ fourth year in the Senate, did Thornton confront him long enough to warrant a recognition of the doctor’s ideas. On March 5,1804, at a dinner party given by Justice Bushrod Washington, he explained “his plan for a new confederate system of Government for the United States.” At the end of that year, Adams checked on a patent which brought him to “Dr: Thornton’s Office; acting under the Secretary of State as Commissioner of Patents.” He learned that it was “not a ...