Burnet, William, 1730-1791
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.
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 |
---|
Filters:
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