William A. Burwell

William Armisted Burwell (March 15, 1780 – February 16, 1821) was a nineteenth-century congressman and presidential secretary from Virginia.

William Armisted Burwell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 13th & 14th district
In office December 1, 1806 – March 3, 1813 March 4, 1813 – February 16, 1821
Preceded by	Christopher H. Clark Matthew Clay
Succeeded by	Thomas M. Bayly Jabez Leftwich
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office 1804–1806
Personal details
Born	(1780-03-15)March 15, 1780 Boydton, Virginia, U.S.
Died	February 16, 1821(1821-02-16) (aged 40) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse(s)	Letitia McCrury Burwell
Profession	Politician, Secretary

Biography

William Burwell's grave

Born near Boydton, Virginia, Burwell graduated from the College of William and Mary. He moved to Franklin County, Virginia in 1802 and became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, serving from 1804 to 1806. Burwell then became a private secretary for President Thomas Jefferson before being elected a Democratic-Republican to the United States House of Representatives to fill a vacancy. Burwell served from 1806 until his death on February 16, 1821, in Washington, D.C.. He was interred there in the Congressional Cemetery.

His home, the Burwell-Holland House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.[1]

In her 1974 biography of Jefferson, Fawn M. Brodie repeats a clergyman's claim that Burwell was an atheist and that he was expelled from New Jersey College for this reason and for "infidelity."

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.

External links

• United States Congress. "William A. Burwell (id: B001160)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• William A. Burwell at Find a Grave
• William A. Burwell at The Political Graveyard

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Christopher H. Clark	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 13th congressional district December 1, 1806 – March 3, 1813 (obsolete district)	Succeeded by Thomas M. Bayly
Preceded by Matthew Clay	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 14th congressional district March 4, 1813 – February 16, 1821 (obsolete district)	Succeeded by Jabez Leftwich