Samuel Swinfin Burdett

Samuel Swinfin Burdett
Born	(1836-02-21)February 21, 1836 Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, England
Died	Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, England
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery

Samuel Swinfin Burdett (February 21, 1836 – September 24, 1914) was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.

Biography

He was born on February 21, 1836 in The Old Manse, Broughton Astley, bordering Sutton-in-the-Elms in Leicestershire, England. His father was minister at the Baptist Chapel there.

When twelve years of age he emigrated to the United States. He worked on a farm in Lorain County, Ohio, and attended the common schools. He studied law at Oberlin College, Ohio, was admitted to the bar in 1858 and commenced practice in DeWitt, Iowa. He entered the Union Army as a private in the First Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, in May 1861. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, later becoming captain, and served until August 1864. He served as assistant provost marshal general from March 1, 1864 – August 1, 1864. He moved to Osceola, St. Clair County, Missouri, in December 1865. Attorney for the seventh circuit in 1868 and 1869. He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1868.

Burdett was elected as a Republican to the Forty-first and Forty-second Congresses (March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1873). He served as chairman of the Committee on Manufactures (Forty-second Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1872 for reelection to the Forty-third Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Osceola, Missouri. He was appointed Commissioner of the General Land Office in 1874. He engaged in the practice of law in Washington, D.C., residing at Glencarlyn, Virginia, during his last years. Commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic from 1885 to 1886. He founded the Arlington, Virginia neighborhood of Glencarlyn with his partner George W. Curtis in 1888.

File:The Samuel S. Burdett house in Glencarlyn, Arlington, Virginia.JPG

The Samuel S. Burdett house in Glencarlyn, Arlington, Virginia.

He died at The Old Manse (now 12 Green Rd), Broughton Astley, nr. Sutton-in-the-Elms, Leicestershire, England, September 24, 1914, whilst on a visit, in the room in which he was born. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

References

• Samuel Swinfin Burdett at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by John H. Stover	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 5th congressional district 1869-1873	Succeeded by Richard P. Bland
Political offices
Preceded by Willis Drummond	Commissioner of the General Land Office 1874-1876	Succeeded by James A. Williamson
Preceded by John S. Kountz	Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic 1885 – 1886	Succeeded by Lucius Fairchild