Samuel Swinfin Burdett

Republican Representative of Missouri's 5th district

  • Representative

    Missouri, district 5

    March 4, 1871 - March 3, 1873

2

Congresses Served

2

House Terms

February 21, 1836 (78 years old)

Birthday

September 24, 1914

Death

  • Emigrated to the United States at the age of twelve.
  • Worked on a farm and attended common schools before studying law at Oberlin College.
  • Became an abolitionist and joined John Brown during the Bleeding Kansas conflict.
  • Served in the Union Army during the Civil War, starting as a private and eventually becoming a captain.
  • Moved to Missouri after the war and served as an attorney for the seventh circuit.
  • Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving two terms.
  • Served as chairman of the Committee on Manufactures during his second term in Congress.
  • Was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to Congress in 1872.
  • Appointed Commissioner of the General Land Office in 1874.
  • Practiced law in Washington, D.C., and resided in Glencarlyn, Virginia, in his later years.
  • Served as Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic.
  • Co-founded the Arlington, Virginia neighborhood of Glencarlyn.
  • Died in the same room he was born in Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, England, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
  • Is the namesake of the community of Burdett, Missouri.