Burnet, William, 1730-1791

Hide Profile

William Burnet (December 13, 1730 – October 7, 1791) was an American political leader and physician from New Jersey. He served in the Continental Army and the Continental Congress.

Born on December 13, 1730 in Elizabethtown in the Province of New Jersey, Burnet graduated from Princeton University in 1749 and studied medicine under Dr. Staats in White Plains, New York before starting his practice in Newark, New Jersey. He was a member of Newark's Committee of Safety in 1775 before he joined the Continental Army as a surgeon. He opened a hospital in Newark for wounded soldiers, and ran it throughout the Revolution. He was appointed Surgeon General for the Eastern Region in 1776, and also held that position until the war ended in 1783.

Burnet was elected to the Continental Congress in 1780 and served from December 11, 1780 until his resignation on April 1, 1781, when he was forced to leave this service by the press of other duties and his wife's illness. Later that year he began serving as a judge in Essex County. Burnet also led the New Jersey Medical Society in 1787. He died in Newark, New Jersey on October 7, 1791, aged 60, and was interred in that city's First Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Alexander, William, 1726-1783. Selected papers, 1767-1782. 1776-1782 (bulk). New-York Historical Society Library
referencedIn United States. Continental Congress. Oath, 1780 Jan. 24-Dec. 8. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Burnet, Isabella Neff, 1885-. The class of 1749 at the College of New Jersey [manuscript], 1941. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Hornblower family. Hornblower family papers, 1725-1953 1804-1860. New Jersey Historical Society Library
referencedIn Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey. Surveyor General. Surveyor General's Fee-Book, 1788-1798. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Burnet, Isabella Neff, 1885-. Papers of Isabella Neff Burnet, 1757-1960. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alexander, William, 1726-1783. person
associatedWith Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey. Surveyor General. corporateBody
associatedWith Burnet, Isabella Neff, 1885- person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Hornblower family. family
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Princeton University corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Newark NJ US
Newark NJ US
White Plains NY US
Subject
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Physicians
Activity

Person

Birth 1730-12-13

Death 1791-10-07

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sk2bn7

Ark ID: w6sk2bn7

SNAC ID: 87404079