Burnham Martin (August 10, 1811 – November 17, 1882) was a

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...

lawyer, farmer and politician who served as the 22nd

lieutenant governor of Vermont The lieutenant governor of Vermont is elected for a two-year term and chosen separately from the governor. The Vermont Lieutenant Governor's main responsibilities include acting as governor when the governor is out of state or incapacitated, presi ...

from 1858 to 1860.

Early life

Burnham Martin was born in

Williamstown, Vermont Williamstown is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,515 at the 2020 census, making it the second largest municipality in the county. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total a ...

on August 10, 1811. He was trained as a

saddle The saddle is a supportive structure for a rider of an animal, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is equestrian. However, specialized saddles have been created for oxen, camels and other animals. It is not k ...

r and worked in

Saratoga Springs, New York Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over 2 ...

and Fayette County, Ohio in the 1830s and 1840s, also teaching school and studying law. After attaining admission to the bar, Martin joined the Whigs and served as Fayette County State's Attorney from 1841 to 1843. He was a member of the

Ohio House of Representatives The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate. The House of Representatives first met in Ch ...

from 1843 to 1845, and he served in the Ohio Senate from 1845 to 1847. Martin subsequently returned to Vermont. He settled in

Chelsea Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to: Places Australia * Chelsea, Victoria Canada * Chelsea, Nova Scotia * Chelsea, Quebec United Kingdom * Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames ** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...

, where he practiced law and farmed, also serving in local offices for most of his life, including Chelsea Justice of the Peace,

Orange County Orange County most commonly refers to: *Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area Orange County may also refer to: U.S. counties *Orange County, Florida, containing Orlando *Orange County, Indiana *Orange County, New ...

State's Attorney from 1849 to 1850 and 1853, and County Clerk from 1857 to 1858.

Political career

In 1857 Martin represented Chelsea in the Vermont House of Representatives. He was elected Lieutenant Governor as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

and served from 1858 to 1860. Martin served in the

Vermont Senate The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-m ...

from 1866 to 1867. From 1872 until his death he served as Chelsea's Town Clerk. In 1876 Martin served again in the Vermont House of Representatives.

Later life

Martin was a member of the Bennington Battle Monument Commission and was active in the Orange County Agricultural Society, serving as its

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a ...

Death and burial

Burnham Martin died in Chelsea on November 17, 1882. He was buried in Williamstown's West Hill Cemetery.

Other

In 1867 at a speech at the agricultural fair in

Tunbridge, Vermont Tunbridge is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census the town population was 1,337. The town consists of three village centers, all situated on Vermont Route 110 in the valley of the first branch of ...

, Martin described the event as a "little World's Fair". This name was soon adopted as the official name of the annual fair that is still held to this day. This event is recorded on a historical marker on the edge of the fairgrounds in Tunbridge.The Tunbridge World's Fair
by Euclid Farnham, 2008, page 7 Martin's first name appears variously as "Burnham" or "Burnam." It is spelled "Burnham" on his gravestone.

Photo gallery

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Burnham 1811 births 1882 deaths Ohio Whigs Members of the Ohio House of Representatives Ohio state senators Vermont Whigs Vermont Republicans Vermont lawyers State's attorneys in Vermont Members of the Vermont House of Representatives Vermont state senators Lieutenant Governors of Vermont People from Chelsea, Vermont Burials in Vermont 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American lawyers