William O. Burgin

William Olin Burgin (July 28, 1877 – April 11, 1946) was a U.S. Representative from North Carolina.

William O. Burgin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 8th district
In office January 3, 1939 – April 11, 1946
Preceded by	Walter Lambeth
Succeeded by	Eliza Pratt
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
In office 1931-1933
Member of the North Carolina Senate
In office 1933-1935
Personal details
Born	William Olin Burgin (1877-07-28)July 28, 1877 McDowell County, North Carolina
Died	April 11, 1946(1946-04-11) (aged 68) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Occupation	lawyer, traveling salesman and merchant

Born on a farm near Marion, McDowell County, North Carolina, Burgin moved with his parents to Rutherfordton, North Carolina, where he attended the public schools and Rutherfordton Military Institute. He also attended the Law School of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He engaged as a clerk in a general store in Rutherfordton in 1893 and later as a traveling salesman and merchant. He moved to Thomasville and engaged in the mercantile business. He was admitted to the bar. He served as mayor of Thomasville, North Carolina, from 1906 to 1910. He moved to Lexington, North Carolina, and continued the practice of law. He served as president and attorney of the Industrial Bank of Lexington. He served as director in a number of business enterprises in Lexington. He served in the State house of representatives in 1931. He served as member of the State senate in 1933.

Burgin was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-sixth and to the three succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1939, until his death in Washington, D.C., on April 11, 1946. He was interred in Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, North Carolina.

A confidential 1943 analysis of the House Foreign Affairs Committee by Isaiah Berlin for the British Foreign Office described Burgin as "a meek, mild, homely figure who seldom makes his presence felt, but who has voted regularly for the President's foreign policy measures. A typical southern Democrat."[1]

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

References

1. Hachey, Thomas E. (Winter 1973–1974). "American Profiles on Capitol Hill: A Confidential Study for the British Foreign Office in 1943" (PDF). Wisconsin Magazine of History. 57 (2): 141–153. JSTOR 4634869. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-21.

Sources

• United States Congress. "William O. Burgin (id: B001084)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Walter Lambeth	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 8th congressional district 1939–1946	Succeeded by Eliza Pratt