Robert T. Burton
Encyclopedia
Robert Taylor Burton was a member of the presiding bishopric
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1874 until his death. He was also one of the principal officers in the Nauvoo Legion during its Utah reconstitution (including the Utah War
) and led the territorial militia against the Morrisites during the 1862 Morrisite War
.
Born in Amherstburg
in Upper Canada
, Burton was called by Presiding Bishop
Edward Hunter to be his second counselor in 1874. Burton served in this capacity until Hunter's death in 1883. When William B. Preston was called to be the new Presiding Bishop
in 1884, Burton was asked to serve as his first counselor. Burton served in this capacity until his death.
In 1856, Burton was part of the rescue party sent from Salt Lake City to assist the stranded Martin Handcart Company near the Sweetwater River. In 1870, Burton was tried and acquitted for the murder of Isabella Bowman, a person who had been killed by Utah militia while surrendering in the Morrisite War.
Burton practiced plural marriage
and fathered 27 children. He is the great-great-grandfather of the current presiding bishop of the LDS Church, H. David Burton
.
Burton died at Salt Lake City and was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
.
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1874 until his death. He was also one of the principal officers in the Nauvoo Legion during its Utah reconstitution (including the Utah War
Utah War
The Utah War, also known as the Utah Expedition, Buchanan's Blunder, the Mormon War, or the Mormon Rebellion was an armed confrontation between LDS settlers in the Utah Territory and the armed forces of the United States government. The confrontation lasted from May 1857 until July 1858...
) and led the territorial militia against the Morrisites during the 1862 Morrisite War
Morrisite War
The Morrisite War was a skirmish between a Latter Day Saint sect known as the "Morrisites" and the Utah territorial government.-Morrisites:In 1857 Joseph Morris, an English convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah, reported receiving revelations naming him the Seventh...
.
Born in Amherstburg
Amherstburg, Ontario
Amherstburg is a Canadian town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario. It is approximately south of the U.S...
in 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...
, Burton was called by Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
Edward Hunter to be his second counselor in 1874. Burton served in this capacity until Hunter's death in 1883. When William B. Preston was called to be the new Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
in 1884, Burton was asked to serve as his first counselor. Burton served in this capacity until his death.
In 1856, Burton was part of the rescue party sent from Salt Lake City to assist the stranded Martin Handcart Company near the Sweetwater River. In 1870, Burton was tried and acquitted for the murder of Isabella Bowman, a person who had been killed by Utah militia while surrendering in the Morrisite War.
Burton practiced plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
and fathered 27 children. He is the great-great-grandfather of the current presiding bishop of the LDS Church, H. David Burton
H. David Burton
Harold David Burton has been the thirteenth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 27 December 1995. He has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992....
.
Burton died at Salt Lake City and was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery
Salt Lake City Cemetery
thumb|The northern section of the cemetery at night, looking towards Salt Lake CityThe Salt Lake City Cemetery is in The Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. Approximately 120,000 persons are buried in the cemetery. Many religious leaders and politicians, particularly many leaders of The...
.
See also
- Council on the Disposition of the TithesCouncil on the Disposition of the TithesThe Council on the Disposition of the Tithes is a leadership body in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, composed of the First Presidency, the Presiding Bishopric, and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Council determines how the tithing funds of the church will be spent...
- Nauvoo Brass BandNauvoo Brass BandThe Nauvoo Brass Band was an official musical organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when the church's headquarters where located in Nauvoo, Illinois, and was later revived in the Utah Territory.-Nauvoo era:...
- Orrin P. MillerOrrin P. MillerOrrin Porter Miller was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1901 to his death....