Career
Born at Manchester, Lancashire, he was a right-handed batsman who made one appearance in first-class cricket. Thornber played his club cricket for Manchester and Sale, before making his appearance in first-class cricket for Lancashire in 1874 against Kent at Maidstone. He opened the batting alongside Dick Barlow in Lancashire"s first-innings, but was dismissed for a duck by James Fellowes, while in their second-innings he batted lower in the order, but was again dismissed for a duck, this time run out.
He was described as a steady middle order batsman with a sound defence.
Outside of playing cricket, Thornber was a merchant, trading with the East Indies. He died at Street Pancras, London on 28 July 1913.