Private William Thorpe was born in approximately 1791 in Repton, Derbyshire. He was 5 foot 10 tall and had blue eyes, brown hair and was a labourer by trade. On the 3rd February 1809, he enlisted for unlimited service at the age of 18 years. On the 27th August 1809, he volunteered into the 1st Battalion 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot. He served in the Peninsula War of 1809-1814 and deserted at Belfast on the 25th August 1815.