William Burton (politician, 1789)

William Burton (born October 16, 1789 in Sussex County , Delaware , † August 5, 1866 in Milford , Delaware) was an American politician and governor of the state of Delaware from 1859 to 1863 .

Early years and political advancement

William Burton studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania after elementary school . After that he practiced for a while in Lewes and then in Milford. In 1827 he became a brigadier general in the militia. Between 1830 and 1834 he was a sheriff in Kent County . At that time he was a member of the Whigs . Disagreeing with his party's stance on slavery , he switched to the Democratic Party in 1848 . In 1854 he ran unsuccessfully for this party for governor. Four years later, however, he made the jump to the highest office in his state.

Delaware Governor

William Burton began his four-year term on January 18, 1859. He took this office on the eve of the American Civil War . At that time there were relatively few slave owners and slaves in Delaware. Nevertheless, the southern states had their supporters just like the states of the Union. At that time they tried to steer a course of neutrality by invoking the rights of the individual states and defending themselves against influences from outside the state. But that could not be sustained for long. Political conflicts soon arose between the two camps in Delaware, too, although they were not as bloody as in other border states. Like many of his countrymen, Burton was against the abolition of slavery. But he also spoke out against a possible exit of the state from the Union. Even the legislature could not be won over to join the Confederate States . Delaware remained part of the union.

However, the governor did not directly support them. So he refused to subordinate the militia to the Union troops. Instead, he called for voluntary entry into the Union army. In percentage terms, more applicants followed this call than in any other country in the Union. This fact was specifically recognized by President Abraham Lincoln . In 1862 the local leaders of the Republican Party called Union troops into the state to oversee the elections on suspicion of manipulation. In hindsight, this Republican behavior was a tactical mistake. Most Delaware citizens were put off by this practice. The result was that Republicans had a hard time in Delaware for the next 40 years. It was not until 1895 that Joshua H. Marvil was elected governor.

Another résumé

After the end of his governorship on January 20, 1863, Burton withdrew from politics. He returned to practice as a doctor and died in August 1866. Governor Willam Burton was married twice and had one daughter.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• William Burton in the National Governors Association (English)
• The governors of Delaware (English)
• William Burton in the database of Find a Grave (English)