William E. Thornton
1929 – 2021

William E. Thornton

American astronaut (1929–2021)

university teachermilitary officerphysicianastronaut
Born
1929-04-14, Faison
Died
2021-01-11
Birthplace state
North Carolina

Biography

William E. Thornton was born in Faison, North Carolina in 1929 and worked as a military officer, physician, and astronaut. He earned a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of North Carolina and a doctorate in medicine from the same institution. He flew on the Space Shuttle Challenger on two missions, STS-8 and STS-51-B.

Occupation

William E. Thornton is recorded as a university teacher, a military officer, a physician and a astronaut, born in North Carolina (1929–2021).

Connections to North Carolina

William E. Thornton was born in Faison, North Carolina in 1929. Explore other notable figures from North Carolina, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from North Carolina›North Carolinahistory ›Historic sites in North Carolina›
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Everything a full report reveals about Faison

William E. Thornton came from Faison. A full Aubrey report on Faison pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from North Carolina

Other historical figures born in North Carolina, ranked by historical prominence.

Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
President of the United States from 1865 to 1869
James K. Polk
James K. Polk
President of the United States from 1845 to 1849 (1795–1849)
O. Henry
O. Henry
American short story writer (1862–1910)
Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner
American actress (1922–1990)
Nina Simone
Nina Simone
American singer, songwriter and pianist and civil rights activist (1933–2003)
Billy Graham
Billy Graham
American Christian evangelist (1918–2018)
John Coltrane
John Coltrane
American jazz saxophonist (1926–1967)

Frequently asked about William E. Thornton

Who was William E. Thornton?
William E. Thornton was American astronaut (1929–2021), born in North Carolina (1929 – 2021).
When and where was William E. Thornton born?
William E. Thornton was born on 1929-04-14 in Faison.
When did William E. Thornton die?
William died on 2021-01-11.
What was William E. Thornton known for?
William E. Thornton is recorded as a university teacher, a military officer, a physician and a astronaut.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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