Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/81

 BURT.

BURTON.

BURT, William Austin, survej'or, was born in Worcester, Mass., June 13, 1792. He acquired some experience as a civil engineer in Erie county, N.Y., and became U.S. deputj'-surveyor at Deti-oit, Mich., in 1840. He surve3-ed the entire northern part of Michigan. The solar compass was originated by him, and he introduced a number of important improvements in geological surveying. At the time of his death he was en- gaged in perfecting an equatorial sextant, which he had patented in 18.")6. He served several terms in the territorial council of Michigan and in the state legislature, and he was for some years a judge of the circuit court. As a member of the legislature he was largely instrumental in secur- ing the Sault Ste. Marie canal. He died at De- troit, Mich., Aug. 18. 1858.

BURTON, Henry S., soldier, was born in New York city in 1818. He was graduated at West Point in 1839; served as lieutenant in the 3d artilleiy in the Florida war, and as an assistant instructor of infantry and artillery tactics 1842- 45. He was lieutenant-colonel of New York vol- unteers in the Mexican war; prominent at the defense of La Paz and Todos Santos. He served in garrison duty in the south and west 1847-61; was promoted major in 1861 and had cliarge of the Fort Delaware prison, 1861-'3. He com- manded the artillery reserve of the army of the Potomac 1863-'4; was inspector of artillery in the Richmond campaign and in the department of the East, and a member of the retiring board in 1864. He was brevetted brigadier-general in March, 1865; commanded the 5th artillery at Fort Monroe, Va.; at Columbia, S.C.; at Rich- mond, Va.; and at Fort Adams, R.I.; and was on court-martial duty in New York city from October, 1868, to March, 1869. He died in Fort Adams, Newport, R.I.. April 4, 1869.

BURTON, Joseph Ralph, senator, was born near Mitchell, Ind., Nov. 16, 1851, son of Allen C. and Elizabeth (Holmes) Burton. He attended Franklin college tiiree years, and De Pauw uni- versit}' one j'ear; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1875. He was married in 1875 to Mrs. Carrie (Mitchell) Webster of Princeton. Ind., anil removed to Kansas, engaging in practice at Abilene. He was elected a representative in the Kansas legislature, serving three terms, and was a member of the World's Columbian commission from that state. He was prominent as a speaker in political campaigns and was elected to the U.S. senate as a Republican for the term 1901-'07,

BURTON, Lewis William, first bishop of Lex- ington. Ky., and 178tli in succession in the Amer- ican episcopate, was born in Cleveland. Ohio. Nov. 9, 1852: son of the Rev. Lewis and Jane (Wallace) Burton; grandson of John and Hannah (Miller) Bm'ton; greats-grandson of Solomon

Burton, who settled in Stratford, Conn., amd married there, Mercy Judson, Aug. 1. 1687; and on his mother's side, great-grandson of James and Margai'et (Chambers) Wallace. He was gradu- ated from Kenyon college, Ohio, with first honors in 1873 and from the Philadelphia divin- ity school in 1877. He was ordained deacon in 1877, and priest in 1878, and was an assistant and rector at All Saints' church, Philadelphia, Pa., 1877-'80, and assistant and rector at St. Mark's church, Cleveland, Ohio, 1881-'84. He was rec- tor of St. John's cliurch, Richmond. Va. . 1884-93, and of St. Andrew's church, Louisville, Ky., 1893-'96. He was consecrated bishop of Lexing- ton, Ky., Jan. 30, 1896, by Bishops Dudley, Peterkin, Leonard, Randolph, Vincent, White and Nelson. He received the degree of D.D. from Kenyon college in 1896, and from the University of the South in 1896. He was married, Jan. 15, 1883, to Georgie Hendree Ball of Atlanta. Ga.

BURTON, Theodore Elijah, representative, was born in Jefi'erson, Ashtabula county. Ohio, Dec. 20, 1851. He removed to Iowa in 1865, and in 1867 began his collegiate studies at Iowa college. In 1870 he removed to Oberlin college, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1872, and remained as tutor two j'ears. He was admitted to the bar in 1875, and began practice at Cleveland. Ohio. In 1888 he was elected a repre.sentative to the 51st Con- gress from the twenty -first district of Ohio; was defeated for election in 1890, and was re-elected to the 54th, 55th. 56th. 57th and 58th congresses. He gave special studv' to problems pertaining to currencj^ and economic subjects, and as a mem- ber of the committee on river aiid harbor im- provements advanced the develojnnent of traflSc on the Great Lakes. Oberlin conferred on him the degree of A.M. in 1875, and LL.D. in 1900.

BURTON, William Evans, comedian, was born in London. England, Sept. 24, 1804; son of AVilliam George Burton, a printer, and autlior of Biblical Researches. He was educated at St. Paul's school, London, and at Oxford uni- versity, and intended to enter the church, but before he had taken orders his father's death forced him to undertake the management of the printing establishment in order to support his mother. He also edited The Cambridge Quarterly Revieiv, which he establi-shed, and which intro- duced him to members of the theatrical profes- sion. He joined a company of amateur actors, and in 1825 made his debut, appearing in low cdmedj'^ with a provincial company. He devoted himself to comedy with such earnestness that he soon became the leading comedian of the company. In 1831 he made his first professional apjiearance before a London audience as Wormwood in "The Lottery Ticket,'' and won much praise from critics and audiences. He played Marall to Edmund