Sir Edward Thornton, FRS (22 October 1766 – 3 July 1852) was a British diplomat, and father of Sir Edward Thornton (1817–1906). He was born in London, the third son (of three sons and two daughters; a brother was the merchant Thomas Thornton) of William Thornton (1738–1769), who had come from Hull, East Yorkshire to London and established himself as a prosperous innkeeper and Freeman of the City of London, and Dorothy (née Thompson; died 1769), described by Sir Edward Thornton as "a countrywoman... a native of the... East Riding, of a very respectable family". Dorothy died three months after the birth of a daughter, and eight months later, William was suddenly taken ill and died soon after, leaving their children orphaned.