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Francis Burt (Nebraska)
Encyclopedia
Francis Burt was an American politician politician from South Carolina
who served as the first Governor of Nebraska Territory
.
. The fifth of ten children, he attended Pendleton Academy but did not graduate. After completing his formal education, Burt read law under Warren R. Davis
before establishing his own legal practice
. In 1831, he married Georgianna Hall of Charleston
. The marriage produced three boys and five girls: Frank, Armistead, George Ann, Harriett Giraud, Joanna Lois, Mary Eliza, Katherine, and George Abbott.
Burt entered politics as a member of South Carolina's Nullification Convention, being one of the 136 delegates voting in support of the Ordinance of Nullification
. In addition to the convention, 1832 saw Burt elected to the South Carolina General Assembly
. He remained in the state legislature until 1844 when he was elected State Treasurer. Burt left office after a single term and served as editor of the Pendleton Messenger from 1847 till 1851. In 1852 he was a member of the South Carolina Constitutional Convention.
, President Franklin Pierce
appointed Burt Third Auditor of the United States Treasury Department in 1853. The next year Pierce needed to select governor for the newly create Nebraska Territory
. After William Orlando Butler
declined the position, the President selected Burt. The new governor was commissioned on August 2, 1854 and left his home in Pendleton for Nebraska on September 11.
Burt's son Armistead and several of his neighbors accompanied him of the four week trip to the new territory. The new governor had suffered from digestive problems for several years and experienced an intensification of symptoms while enroute. His medical condition was such that he spent several days in St. Louis, Missouri
under care of a physician. Upon his October 7 arrival in Bellevue
, Burt had experienced a relapse and was immediately confined to a sick bed in the local Presbyterian mission to the Oto
and Omaha
.
Judge Fenner Ferguson
administered the oath of office to Burt on October 16, 1854. Two days later, on October 18, 1854, the governor died. Following the death of Governor Burt, Territorial Secretary Thomas B. Cuming
became acting governor until the arrival of Governor Mark W. Izard
.
Governor Burt's body was returned to Pendleton, South Carolina for burial. In January 1855, the Nebraska Territorial Legislature
named Burt County, Nebraska
in honor of the deceased governor.
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
who served as the first Governor of Nebraska Territory
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
.
Background
Burt was born on January 13, 1807 to Francis and Katherine (Miles) Burt in Pendleton, South CarolinaPendleton, South Carolina
Pendleton is a town in Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,966 at the 2000 census. It is a sister city of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland....
. The fifth of ten children, he attended Pendleton Academy but did not graduate. After completing his formal education, Burt read law under Warren R. Davis
Warren R. Davis
Warren Ransom Davis was an American attorney and Representative from South Carolina's 6th congressional district from 1827-35....
before establishing his own legal practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
. In 1831, he married Georgianna Hall of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. The marriage produced three boys and five girls: Frank, Armistead, George Ann, Harriett Giraud, Joanna Lois, Mary Eliza, Katherine, and George Abbott.
Burt entered politics as a member of South Carolina's Nullification Convention, being one of the 136 delegates voting in support of the Ordinance of Nullification
Ordinance of Nullification
The Ordinance of Nullification declared the Tariff of 1828 and 1832 null and void within the state borders of South Carolina. It began the Nullification Crisis...
. In addition to the convention, 1832 saw Burt elected to the South Carolina General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
. He remained in the state legislature until 1844 when he was elected State Treasurer. Burt left office after a single term and served as editor of the Pendleton Messenger from 1847 till 1851. In 1852 he was a member of the South Carolina Constitutional Convention.
Nebraska
Due to his active participation in the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
appointed Burt Third Auditor of the United States Treasury Department in 1853. The next year Pierce needed to select governor for the newly create Nebraska Territory
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebraska Territory was created by the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854...
. After William Orlando Butler
William Orlando Butler
William Orlando Butler was a U.S. political figure and U.S. Army major general from Kentucky. He served as a Democratic congressman from Kentucky from 1839 to 1843, and was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee under Lewis Cass in 1848.-Early life:Butler was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky,...
declined the position, the President selected Burt. The new governor was commissioned on August 2, 1854 and left his home in Pendleton for Nebraska on September 11.
Burt's son Armistead and several of his neighbors accompanied him of the four week trip to the new territory. The new governor had suffered from digestive problems for several years and experienced an intensification of symptoms while enroute. His medical condition was such that he spent several days in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
under care of a physician. Upon his October 7 arrival in Bellevue
Bellevue, Nebraska
Bellevue is a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 50,137 at the 2010 census. Eight miles south of Omaha, Bellevue is part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Originally settled in the 1830s, It was the first state capitol. Bellevue was incorporated in...
, Burt had experienced a relapse and was immediately confined to a sick bed in the local Presbyterian mission to the Oto
Otoe tribe
The Otoe or Oto are a Native American people. The Otoe language, Chiwere, is part of the Siouan family and closely related to that of the related Iowa and Missouri tribes.-History:...
and Omaha
Omaha (tribe)
The Omaha are a federally recognized Native American nation which lives on the Omaha Reservation in northeastern Nebraska and western Iowa, United States...
.
Judge Fenner Ferguson
Fenner Ferguson
Fenner Ferguson was a Delegate from the Territory of Nebraska, US. He was born in Nassau, New York, on April 25, 1814, attended the common schools; studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1840, and commenced practice in Albany, New York...
administered the oath of office to Burt on October 16, 1854. Two days later, on October 18, 1854, the governor died. Following the death of Governor Burt, Territorial Secretary Thomas B. Cuming
Thomas B. Cuming
Thomas B. Cuming was an American military officer and politician. He served as the first Secretary of Nebraska Territory and served twice as the territory's Acting Governor, the first time following the death of Francis Burt and the second following the resignation of Mark W...
became acting governor until the arrival of Governor Mark W. Izard
Mark W. Izard
Mark Whitaker Izard was an Arkansas Democratic politician is best known for being the 3rd Governor of the Nebraska Territory....
.
Governor Burt's body was returned to Pendleton, South Carolina for burial. In January 1855, the Nebraska Territorial Legislature
Nebraska Legislature
The Nebraska Legislature is the supreme legislative body of the State of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County....
named Burt County, Nebraska
Burt County, Nebraska
-History:Burt County was formed in 1854. It was named after Francis Burt, the first governor of Nebraska Territory.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,791 people, 3,155 households, and 2,240 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile . ...
in honor of the deceased governor.