Brief History
Professor Horton was trying to create a normal android model of a human being, the flaming skin to the android was merely an accident. Later, Horton abandoned Jim Hammond (the Human Torch). He then became to create another android by name of Adam 2, who became evil. Changing his name to Thomas Raye, he got married and became step-father to Frankie Raye, who, would then have an accident with the chemicals that helped create the Torch. She would go on to be called Nova.
Other Media
Television
Phineas T. Horton is mentioned in the Fantastic Four episode When Calls Galactus, in the episode, Frankie becomes the Nova.
Films
The name of Phineas T. Horton appears at the 1943 Stark Expo in Captain America: The First Avenger, Human Torch is called The Synthetic Man.