McBurney, Robert Ross, 1837-1898

Robert McBurney was born in Ireland in 1837, immigrating to the United States in 1854. On arriving in New York City he got a room in the YMCA, where he soon developed an interest in the organization. He became employed as its executive officer in 1862. (The term general secretary was not yet used, but McBurney is regarded as the first staff person to whom the term applied.) McBurney presided over the extensive growth of the New York City association from this time through the 1890s. This growth included increased membership, new branches, and more buildings, including the first in the country especially built for association purposes (1869). McBurney was also active on the state and national levels. He was a founder and leader of the New York State Committee and its president in 1869, the 1870s, and 1875. In the mid-1860s he was the corresponding member of the International Committee from the New York State Committee. In 1869 at the Portland Convention he was elected a full member to the International Committee. He was also active in the General Secretaries Conference since its inception in 1871. He attended World Conference meetings in Europe five times during the 1870s and 1880s. In 1896 the pressures of work caused a breakdown. He moved to a sanitarium and died in 1898.

Robert McBurney was born in Ireland in 1837, immigrating to the United States in 1854. On arriving in New York City, he got a room at the YMCA, where he soon developed an interest in the organization. He became employed as its executive officer in 1862 and presided over the extensive growth of the New York City association from this time through the 1890s. McBurney was also active on the state and national levels and attended World Conference meetings in Europe five times during the 1870s and 1880s. In 1896 the pressures of work caused a breakdown. He moved to a sanitarium and died in 1898.