Burwell Bassett

Jacksonian Representative of Virginia's 8th district

  • Representative

    Virginia, district 8

    December 3, 1827 - March 3, 1829

10

Congresses Served

10

House Terms

March 18, 1764 (76 years old)

Birthday

February 26, 1841

Death

  • Served in both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly and in the United States House of Representatives for more than a decade across three different districts due to census-required reorganizations.
  • Born into a prominent family with connections to the First Families of Virginia, including being the first cousin of President William Henry Harrison and related to Martha Washington.
  • Attended the College of William and Mary and inherited significant land holdings from his father, which he expanded, operating plantations using enslaved labor.
  • Married twice but had no children.
  • His political career included serving as chairman of the Committee on Claims and the Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business during his terms in Congress.
  • Advocated for public schooling and was active in the Episcopal Church, including efforts to incorporate Alexandria’s Episcopal Church which was vetoed by President James Madison.
  • Returned to live in New Kent County in his final years and likely interred at his family plantation, Eltham, after his death.
  • Owned a significant number of enslaved people throughout his life, with numbers fluctuating due to sales and inheritances.
  • Had military experience as a Lieutenant Colonel of the 68th Regiment of the Virginia Militia during the War of 1812.
  • His political alignments shifted over time, including affiliations with the Democratic-Republican Party, the Crawford Republicans, and the Jacksonian Democrats.
  • Ended his political career after an unsuccessful bid for the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830 and was known for his conservative dress and powdered hair in a queue later in life.