Martin Burrell

Martin Burrell, PC (October 19, 1858 – March 20, 1938) was a Canadian politician.

The Hon. Martin Burrell
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Yale
In office 1917–1920
Preceded by	The electoral district was created in 1914.
Succeeded by	John Armstrong MacKelvie
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Yale—Cariboo
In office 1908–1917
Preceded by	Duncan Ross
Succeeded by	The electoral district was abolished in 1914.
Personal details
Born	(1858-10-19)October 19, 1858 Faringdon, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire), England
Died	March 20, 1938(1938-03-20) (aged 79)
Political party	Conservative
Cabinet	Minister of Agriculture (1911-1917) Secretary of State of Canada (1917-1919) Minister of Mines (1917-1919) Minister of Customs and Inland Revenue (1919-1920)

Born in Faringdon, Berkshire (now Oxfordshire), Burrell emigrated to Canada as a young man, where he eventually became a fruit grower on a farm about two miles east of Grand Forks, British Columbia. His farm was the largest apple tree nursery in the province.

He was elected mayor of Grand Forks, British Columbia in 1903. He first ran unsuccessfully for the House of Commons of Canada as the Conservative candidate in the 1904 federal election for the constituency of Yale—Cariboo. He was elected in the 1908 federal election and re-elected in 1911. In 1917 he was re-elected as a Unionist.

Burrell served as the Minister of Agriculture in the Borden government from 1911 to 1917, and from 1917 to 1919, as Secretary of State of Canada and Minister of Mines. From 1919 to 1920, he was the Minister of Customs and Inland Revenue. He also helped secure the departure of the Komagata Maru, against those mistreating the passengers and prolonging the departure date.

A fire damaged the Parliament Buildings in 1917, and Burrell was badly injured in it. From that time he filled the position of librarian for the Library of Parliament. After leaving politics, he remained in Ottawa and kept the position of Parliamentary Librarian until his death in 1938. He is buried in Beechwood Cemetery.

Burrell Creek near Grand Forks, British Columbia, is named in his honour.