Hiram Rodney Burton (November 13, 1841 – June 17, 1927) was an American physician and politician from

Lewes Lewes () is the county town of East Sussex, England. It is the police and judicial centre for all of Sussex and is home to Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, Lewes Crown Court and HMP Lewes. The civil parish is the centre of ...

, in Sussex County,

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...

. A member of the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

, Burton served two terms as Delaware's at-large U.S. Representative from 1905 to 1909.

Early life and family

Burton was born in Lewes, Delaware. His mother was Ruth Hunn Rodney. He attended St. Peter's Academy at Lewes, taught for two years in the schools in Sussex County, and engaged in the dry goods business in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, from 1862 until 1865. Burton graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1868 and practiced medicine in

Frankford, Delaware Frankford is a town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. The population was 847 at the 2010 census, an increase of 18.6% over the previous decade. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Loca ...

, from 1868 until 1872, when he moved back to Lewes.

Professional and political career

From 1877 until 1888, Burton was the deputy collector of customs for the port of Lewes and was acting assistant surgeon in the

Marine Hospital Service The Marine Hospital Service was an organization of Marine Hospitals dedicated to the care of ill and disabled seamen in the United States Merchant Marine, the U.S. Coast Guard and other federal beneficiaries. The Marine Hospital Service evolved ...

from 1890 until 1893. He ran unsuccessfully for the

State Senate A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 27 states, the legislature is simply called the ''Legislature'' or the ''State Legislature'', whil ...

in 1898 and served as a delegate to the

Republican National Convention The Republican National Convention (RNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1856 by the United States Republican Party. They are administered by the Republican National Committee. The goal of the Repu ...

in 1896, 1900, and 1908; Burton was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1904 and was reelected in 1906. During these terms, he served in the Republican majority in the 59th and 60th Congress, during the administration of President

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. ( ; October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, naturalist, historian, and writer who served as the 26t ...

. He sought reelection in 1908 but lost his party's nomination to lawyer William H. Heald, who went on to win the general election and serve in Congress. Burton served two terms, from March 4, 1905, until March 3, 1909. After departing office, he resumed the practice of medicine in Lewes.

Death and legacy

Burton died at Lewes and is buried in the St. Paul's Episcopal Churchyard in

Georgetown, Delaware Georgetown is a town and the county seat of Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town is 6,422, an increase of 38.3% over the previous decade. Georgetown is part of the Salisbury, Maryland ...

. His home at Lewes is owned by the Lewes Historical Society and is open to the public.

Almanac

Congressional elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1. U.S. Representatives took office March 4 and had a two-year term.

References

Images

Hiram Rodney Burton House

External links

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
*

Places with more information

Delaware Historical Society The Delaware Historical Society began in 1864 as an effort to preserve documents from the Civil War. Since then, it has expanded into a statewide historical institution with several buildings, including Old Town Hall and the Delaware History Muse ...

website
505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161 *

University of Delaware The University of Delaware (colloquially UD or Delaware) is a public land-grant research university located in Newark, Delaware. UD is the largest university in Delaware. It offers three associate's programs, 148 bachelor's programs, 121 mas ...

Library website
181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965
Newark Free Library
750 Library Ave., Newark, Delaware; (302) 731-7550 {{DEFAULTSORT:Burton, Hiram R. 1841 births 1927 deaths American Episcopalians People from Lewes, Delaware Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania alumni Physicians from Delaware Burials in Sussex County, Delaware Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Delaware