Samuel Swinfin Burdett

Samuel Swinfin Burdett (February 21, 1836 – September 24, 1914) was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.

Samuel Swinfin Burdett
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1869  March 3, 1873
Preceded byRichard Schell
Succeeded byJohn Hardy
12th Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic
In office
1885–1886
Preceded byJohn S. Kountz
Succeeded byLucius Fairchild
Personal details
Born(1836-02-21)February 21, 1836
Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, England
DiedSeptember 24, 1914(1914-09-24) (aged 78)
Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, England
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
EducationOberlin College

Biography

He was born on February 21, 1836 in The Old Manse, Broughton Astley, bordering Sutton-in-the-Elms in Leicestershire, England. His father was minister at the Baptist Chapel there.

When twelve years of age he emigrated to the United States. He worked on a farm in Lorain County, Ohio, and attended the common schools. He studied law at Oberlin College, Ohio, was admitted to the bar in 1858 and commenced practice in DeWitt, Iowa. Burdett was an abolitionist and joined John Brown during the conflict in "Bleeding Kanas" in May 1856.[1] He entered the Union Army as a private in the First Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, in May 1861. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, later becoming captain, and served until August 1864. He served as assistant provost marshal general from March 1, 1864 – August 1, 1864. He moved to Osceola, St. Clair County, Missouri, in December 1865. Attorney for the seventh circuit in 1868 and 1869. He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1868.

Burdett was elected as a Republican to the Forty-first and Forty-second Congresses (March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873). He served as chairman of the Committee on Manufactures (Forty-second Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1872 for reelection to the Forty-third Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Osceola, Missouri. He was appointed Commissioner of the General Land Office in 1874. He engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D.C., residing at Glencarlyn, Virginia, during his last years. Commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic from 1885 to 1886. He founded the Arlington, Virginia neighborhood of Glencarlyn with his partner George W. Curtis in 1888.

The Samuel S. Burdett house in Glencarlyn, Arlington, Virginia.

When he was old he decided that he would like to visit the place where he was born. He travelled to England and stayed at the Old Manse (now 12, Green Rd) Broughton Astley, Leicestershire. He suddenly became ill, and some days later he died, on September 24, 1914, in the very room in which he had been born. He was buried with his wife, Nancy (1826–1906) in Arlington National Cemetery.[2]

Legacy

He is the namesake of the community of Burdett, Missouri.[3]

References

  1. Ambrotype of abolitionists Samuel S. Burdett, Gardner C. Trowbridge, and Henry P. Kinney taken May 7, 1856 :: Archives-Civil War. Dcollections.oberlin.edu (March 30, 2012). Retrieved on 2018-04-05.
  2. Burial Detail: Burdett, Samuel S – ANC Explorer
  3. "Bates County Place Names, 1928–1945 (archived)". The State Historical Society of Missouri. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
John H. Stover
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 5th congressional district

1869–1873
Succeeded by
Richard P. Bland
Political offices
Preceded by
Willis Drummond
Commissioner of the General Land Office
1874–1876
Succeeded by
James A. Williamson
Preceded by
John S. Kountz
Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic
1885–1886
Succeeded by
Lucius Fairchild
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