Edward Burgess
Encyclopedia
Edward Burgess was an American
yacht
designer, born June 30, 1848 in West Sandwich, Massachusetts.
Edward is fifth son of Benjamin Franklin Burgess (1818–1876) and Cordelia Williams Ellis(1821–1876). The Burgess family were merchants who made their money in the West Indies trade and lost it in 1879. They had a summer residence in Beverly Farms
.
Edward was educated at Harvard
, graduating in 1871, and became secretary of the Boston Society of Natural History
, in which capacity he edited the publications of the society, and published several memoirs on anatomical subjects. In 1879 he became instructor in entomology
at Harvard, remaining until 1883. He traveled in Europe, and, in an amateur way, studied the principles of naval architecture
, bringing his knowledge and judgment to the practical test of designing and building vessels for his own use. His success in this line was so marked that when, in 1883, a reverse of fortune threw him upon his own resources for a livelihood, he naturally turned to the designing of sailing yachts.
Several of his boats won fame in the waters of the eastern United States
, and when, in 1884, it became necessary to build a large sloop yacht to represent the United States in a series of international races, he was selected by a committee of Bostonians to draw plans for a suitable vessel. From his designs the Puritan
was built, which easily defeated the Genesta
(English) in the races for the America's Cup
in 1885. This was a remarkable triumph in view of the fact that it was the first attempt of an American designer to solve certain shipbuilding problems to which Englishmen had given their attention for a score of years.
In 1886, his Mayflower
, slightly larger than the Puritan, led in the race with the English Galatea
. In 1888 his fishing schooner Carrie E. Phillips distanced four competitors in the fisherman's race held in Boston harbor
. His Volunteer
won the America's cup against the Thistle
, the special product of British genius, in the international races of 1887. His other yachts included the Mariquita and Gossoon, both remarkably swift sloops designed to counter the success of the Clyde-built cutter Minerva (William Fife
, 1888).
Edward married Caroline Louisa Sullivant on June 2, 1877 in Boston. She was born 2 November 1852 in Columbus Ohio and is daughter of William Starling & Caroline Eudora (Sutton) Sullivant. They had two sons William Starling Burgess
and Charles Paine Burgess. Edward died July 12, 1891 of Typhoid Fever
. Caroline died 16 September 16, 1891 in Boston of pneumonia
. They are both buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery
lot #1167 Geranium Path.
Burgess was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame
in 1994.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
designer, born June 30, 1848 in West Sandwich, Massachusetts.
Edward is fifth son of Benjamin Franklin Burgess (1818–1876) and Cordelia Williams Ellis(1821–1876). The Burgess family were merchants who made their money in the West Indies trade and lost it in 1879. They had a summer residence in Beverly Farms
Beverly Farms
Beverly Farms is an informally defined neighborhood at the eastern edge of the city of Beverly, Massachusetts. It is an ocean-front community with a population of about 3,500 which extends from the Manchester-by-the-Sea border to another informally defined section of Beverly known as Prides...
.
Edward was educated at Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, graduating in 1871, and became secretary of the Boston Society of Natural History
Boston Society of Natural History
The Boston Society of Natural History in Boston, Massachusetts, was an organization dedicated to the study and promotion of natural history. It published a scholarly journal and established a museum. In its first few decades, the society occupied several successive locations in Boston's Financial...
, in which capacity he edited the publications of the society, and published several memoirs on anatomical subjects. In 1879 he became instructor in entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
at Harvard, remaining until 1883. He traveled in Europe, and, in an amateur way, studied the principles of naval architecture
Naval architecture
Naval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a...
, bringing his knowledge and judgment to the practical test of designing and building vessels for his own use. His success in this line was so marked that when, in 1883, a reverse of fortune threw him upon his own resources for a livelihood, he naturally turned to the designing of sailing yachts.
Several of his boats won fame in the waters of the eastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and when, in 1884, it became necessary to build a large sloop yacht to represent the United States in a series of international races, he was selected by a committee of Bostonians to draw plans for a suitable vessel. From his designs the Puritan
Puritan (yacht)
Puritan was the 1885 America's Cup defender.-Design:She was built at the George Lawley & Son yard in Boston, Massachusetts and launched May 26, 1885....
was built, which easily defeated the Genesta
Genesta (yacht)
Genesta was the unsuccessful English challenger in the fifth America's Cup in 1885 against the American defender Puritan.-Design:The cutter Genesta was designed by John Beavor-Webb and built by the D&W Henderson shipyard on the River Clyde in 1884, for owner Sir Richard Sutton of the Royal Yacht...
(English) in the races for the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
in 1885. This was a remarkable triumph in view of the fact that it was the first attempt of an American designer to solve certain shipbuilding problems to which Englishmen had given their attention for a score of years.
In 1886, his Mayflower
Mayflower (yacht)
Mayflower was the victorious U.S. defender of the sixth America's Cup in 1886 against English challenger Galatea.-Design:The sloop Mayflower was the second America's Cup defender designed by Edward "Ned " Burgess, built by George Lawley & Son and launched in 1886 for owner General Charles J. Paine...
, slightly larger than the Puritan, led in the race with the English Galatea
Galatea (yacht)
"Galatea" was the unsuccessful British challenger of the sixth America's Cup race in 1886 against American defender "Mayflower".-Design:Galatea, a keel cutter, was designed by John Beavor-Webb and built in 1885 for owner Lieutenant William Henn, R.N...
. In 1888 his fishing schooner Carrie E. Phillips distanced four competitors in the fisherman's race held in Boston harbor
Port of Boston
The Port of Boston, , is a major seaport located in Boston Harbor and adjacent to the City of Boston...
. His Volunteer
Volunteer (yacht)
"Volunteer" was the victorious American defender of the seventh America's Cup race in 1887 against Scottish challenger "Thistle".-Design:"Volunteer," a centerboard compromise sloop, was designed by Edward Burgess and built by Pusey & Jones Shipbuilding Company at Wilmington, Delaware in 1887 for...
won the America's cup against the Thistle
Thistle (yacht)
Thistle was the unsuccessful Scottish challenger of the seventh America's Cup in 1887 against American defender Volunteer.-Design:The cutter Thistle was designed by George Lennox Watson, with interiors by his brother Thomas Lennox Watson, and built at the D&W Henderson shipyard in Partick on the...
, the special product of British genius, in the international races of 1887. His other yachts included the Mariquita and Gossoon, both remarkably swift sloops designed to counter the success of the Clyde-built cutter Minerva (William Fife
William Fife
William Fife III OBE , also known as Wm. Fife, Jr., was the third generation of a family of Scottish yacht designers and builders....
, 1888).
Edward married Caroline Louisa Sullivant on June 2, 1877 in Boston. She was born 2 November 1852 in Columbus Ohio and is daughter of William Starling & Caroline Eudora (Sutton) Sullivant. They had two sons William Starling Burgess
William Starling Burgess
William Starling Burgess was a yacht designer, aviation pioneer, and naval architect.-Biography:William Starling Burgess was born in Boston. He was the son of Edward Burgess who died when Starling was 12. Starling attended Milton Academy and Harvard University. He was a partner in Burgess &...
and Charles Paine Burgess. Edward died July 12, 1891 of Typhoid Fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
. Caroline died 16 September 16, 1891 in Boston of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. They are both buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery was founded in 1831 as "America's first garden cemetery", or the first "rural cemetery", with classical monuments set in a rolling landscaped terrain...
lot #1167 Geranium Path.
Burgess was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame
America's Cup Hall of Fame
The America's Cup Hall of Fame, located at the Herreshoff Marine Museum of Bristol, Rhode Island, USA, honors individuals for outstanding achievement in the America's Cup sailing competition...
in 1994.
Sources
- Boston's North Shore by Joseph E.Garland. Published 1978.
- Benjamin Franklin Burgess Obituary, NEHGS Register Volume 65 xlviii, 1911.
- 139.Benjamin Franklin Burgess genealogy.
- Tasha Tudor ancestry.
External links
- The location of the early Burgess summer cottage is now Lynch Park in Beverly, MassachusettsBeverly, MassachusettsBeverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 39,343 on , which differs by no more than several hundred from the 39,862 obtained in the 2000 census. A resort, residential and manufacturing community on the North Shore, Beverly includes Beverly Farms and Prides...
. Latter it was owned by the Evans Family who hosted President William Howard TaftWilliam Howard TaftWilliam Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
s 1910 summer "Whitehouse". - A map of Beverly Cove from the 1872 Atlas of Essex County plate 95, showing the Burgess cottage off Ober Street on Woodbury Point.
