ðə sˈʌn əvə pɹˈɑːmɪnənt stˈeɪt lˈɛdʒɪslˌeɪɾɚ, θˈoːɹnbɜːɡ fˈɔːt ɪnðə jˈuːniən ˈɑːɹmi dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə sˈɪvəl wˈɔːɹ, ænd sˈɜːvd æz ɐtˈɜːni dʒˈɛnɚɹəl ʌvðə stˈeɪtz θˈɜːd dʒuːdˈɪʃəl dˈɪstɹɪkt ˈæftɚ ðə wˈɔːɹ.
The son of a prominent state legislator, Thornburgh fought in the Union Army during the Civil War, and served as attorney general of the state's third judicial district after the war.