Asa Allworth Burnham
Encyclopedia
Asa Allworth Burnham was an Ontario
farmer and political figure. He was a Conservative
member of the Senate of Canada from 1867 to 1873.
He was born in Cobourg
, Upper Canada
in 1808, the son of Asa Burnham who was one of the first settlers in the area. In 1832, Burnham married Elizabeth, the daughter of Samuel Street Wilmot
. He served as warden for Northumberland
and Durham
counties in 1851 and was mayor of Cobourg from 1861 to 1862. Burnham was also a director of the Bank of Toronto
. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
for Northumberland in 1851. He was elected to the Legislative Council
for Newcastle district in 1863 and served until Confederation
, when he was named to the Senate.
He died in Ottawa
in 1873.
His uncle Zacheus Burnham
, who also lived in Cobourg, served in the legislative assembly and council of Upper Canada.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
farmer and political figure. He was a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
member of the Senate of Canada from 1867 to 1873.
He was born in Cobourg
Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
, Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
in 1808, the son of Asa Burnham who was one of the first settlers in the area. In 1832, Burnham married Elizabeth, the daughter of Samuel Street Wilmot
Samuel Street Wilmot
Samuel Street Wilmot was a surveyor, tanner, farmer and political figure in Upper Canada. He represented Durham in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada from 1820 to 1824....
. He served as warden for Northumberland
Northumberland County, Ontario
Northumberland County is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in central Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Durham County , west of Hastings, southeast of Kawartha Lakes and south of Peterborough County. The county seat is Cobourg...
and Durham
Durham County, Ontario
Durham County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was named from the English County and city.Durham County was created in 1792. It was composed of the townships of Cartwright, Manvers, Cavan, Darlington, Clarke and Hope, and portions of what is now Peterborough County,...
counties in 1851 and was mayor of Cobourg from 1861 to 1862. Burnham was also a director of the Bank of Toronto
Bank of Toronto
The Bank of Toronto was a Canadian bank, founded on July 8, 1857 by George Gooderham, that merged with The Dominion Bank on February 1, 1955 to form the Toronto-Dominion Bank...
. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
for Northumberland in 1851. He was elected to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was the upper house for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the province of Ontario...
for Newcastle district in 1863 and served until Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
, when he was named to the Senate.
He died in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 1873.
His uncle Zacheus Burnham
Zacheus Burnham
Zacheus Burnham was a farmer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.He was born in 1777. He arrived in Upper Canada in 1797 and settled in Hamilton Township near the current site of Cobourg. He was able to acquire large land holdings, thousands of acres, in the region, some as compensation...
, who also lived in Cobourg, served in the legislative assembly and council of Upper Canada.