John H. Burke
Encyclopedia
John Harley Burke was an American
lawyer
, real estate broker
and politician
. The Democrat
served as the first United States Representative
from California's 18th congressional district
for one term, from 1933 to 1935.
in Richland County, Wisconsin. At the age of three, he moved with his parents to Milaca, Minnesota
. Three years later, they moved to San Pedro, California, before settling in Long Beach, California
in 1909. After attending public school in Long Beach, Burke went on to attend the University of Santa Clara and the law department of the University of Southern California
at Los Angeles
. After obtaining his Bachelor of Laws
degree, he was admitted to the bar in 1917 and started up his law practice
in Long Beach. During World War I
, Burke served as a private
, first class in the 12th Training Training Battery of the Field Artillery in Camp Taylor
, Kentucky
. After the war, he got himself involved in the oil
business.
seat for California's 18th congressional district
, just recently formed. The Democrat Burke beat the Republican Robert Henderson and the Independent William E. Hinshaw, by capturing 53.2% of the vote in comparison to 37.4% and 9.3% for the other two candidates, respectively.
Burke was not a candidate for renomination in the 1934 House elections and he went back to Long Beach, California
to engage in real estate
business. He continued until his death there on May 14, 1951. He was then interred at Calvary Cemetery
in East Los Angeles, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, real estate broker
Real estate broker
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate/real property and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy...
and politician
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
. The Democrat
Democratic 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...
served as the first United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from California's 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. The district is located in the northern San Joaquin Valley and includes the cities of Modesto, Stockton, Ceres, Atwater, Merced and Los Banos...
for one term, from 1933 to 1935.
Background
Burke was born on June 2, 1894 in ExcelsiorExcelsior, Richland County, Wisconsin
Excelsior is an unincorporated community located in the town of Richwood, Richland County, Wisconsin, United States. Excelsior is located along County Highway F and Knapp Creek northwest of Blue River.-Notable people:...
in Richland County, Wisconsin. At the age of three, he moved with his parents to Milaca, Minnesota
Milaca, Minnesota
Milaca is a city in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,946 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Mille Lacs County and is situated on the Rum River.-Geography:...
. Three years later, they moved to San Pedro, California, before settling in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
in 1909. After attending public school in Long Beach, Burke went on to attend the University of Santa Clara and the law department of the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
at Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. After obtaining his Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree, he was admitted to the bar in 1917 and started up his law 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 Long Beach. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Burke served as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
, first class in the 12th Training Training Battery of the Field Artillery in Camp Taylor
Camp Taylor
Camp Taylor is a neighborhood and former military base six miles southeast of downtown Louisville, Kentucky, USA. First announced on June 11, 1917 it was originally a military camp named for former president Zachary Taylor...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. After the war, he got himself involved in the oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
business.
Politics
Burke first ran in 1932 for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
seat for California's 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district
California's 18th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. The district is located in the northern San Joaquin Valley and includes the cities of Modesto, Stockton, Ceres, Atwater, Merced and Los Banos...
, just recently formed. The Democrat Burke beat the Republican Robert Henderson and the Independent William E. Hinshaw, by capturing 53.2% of the vote in comparison to 37.4% and 9.3% for the other two candidates, respectively.
Burke was not a candidate for renomination in the 1934 House elections and he went back to Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
to engage in real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
business. He continued until his death there on May 14, 1951. He was then interred at Calvary Cemetery
Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles
The Calvary Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery operated by the Los Angeles Archdiocese, located at 4201 Whittier Boulevard in Los Angeles, California...
in East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
.
External links
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States CongressBiographical Directory of the United States CongressThe Biographical Directory of the United States Congress is a biographical dictionary of all present and former members of the United States Congress as well as its predecessor, the Continental Congress...
- The Political Graveyard profile for John Harley Burke