Robert T. Burton

Robert T. Burton
First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
5 October 1884 (1884-10-05) – 11 November 1907 (1907-11-11)
Called byWilliam B. Preston
Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
9 October 1874 (1874-10-09) – 16 October 1883 (1883-10-16)
Called byEdward Hunter
End reasonDeath of Edward Hunter
Military career
Allegiance United States
UnitNauvoo Legion
  • First Regiment of Cavalry
Commands heldFirst Regiment of Cavalry
Battles/warsUtah War[1]

American Civil War

Morrisite War
Personal details
BornRobert Taylor Burton
(1821-10-25)25 October 1821
Amherstburg, Upper Canada
Died11 November 1907(1907-11-11) (aged 86)
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Resting placeSalt Lake City Cemetery
40°46′37″N 111°51′29″W / 40.777°N 111.858°W / 40.777; -111.858 (Salt Lake City Cemetery)
Spouse(s)Maria Susan Haven
Susan Ellen McBride
Sarah Anna Garr
Children27
ParentsSamuel Burton
Hannah Shipley
Signature 

Robert Taylor Burton (25 October 1821 – 11 November 1907) was a member of the presiding bishopric of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1874 until his death. He was also one of the principal officers in the Nauvoo Legion during its Utah reconstitution (including during the Utah War)[2] and led the territorial militia against the Morrisites during the 1862 Moriste War.

Biography

Born in Amherstburg, Upper Canada, Burton was called by Presiding Bishop Edward Hunter to be his second counselor in 1874. Burton served in this capacity until Hunter's death in 1883. When William B. Preston was called to be the new Presiding Bishop in 1884, Burton was asked to serve as his first counselor. Burton served in this capacity until his death.

Burton joined the LDS Church in Upper Canada in 1838.

In 1856, Burton was part of the rescue party sent from Salt Lake City to assist the stranded Martin Handcart Company near the Sweetwater River.[3] In 1870, Burton was tried and acquitted for the murder of Isabella Bowman, a person who had been killed by Utah militia while surrendering in the Morrisite War.[4][5]

Burton practiced plural marriage and fathered 27 children. He married his first wife, Maria S. Haven (1826–1920) in 1845. He married his other two wives, Sarah A. Garr and Susan E. McBride in 1856.[6] He is the great-great-grandfather of a former presiding bishop of the LDS Church, H. David Burton.

Burton died at his home in Salt Lake City on 11 November 1907, and was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.[7]

Robert Taylor Burton in his cavalry uniform

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Served with allegiance to the State of Deseret
  2. ^ a b "Robert T. (Taylor) Burton". Grampa Bill's G.A. Pages. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  3. ^ Orton, Chad M. (2006). "Orton" (PDF). BYU Studies. 45 (3): 4–37. Retrieved 3 February 2009.[dead link‍]
  4. ^ Godfrey, Kenneth (1994), "The Morrisites", in Powell, Allan Kent (ed.), Utah History Encyclopedia, Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Press, p. 674, ISBN 0874804256, OCLC 30473917, archived from the original on 21 October 2013, retrieved 31 October 2013
  5. ^ Dickson III, Ephriam. "PROTECTING THE HOME FRONT THE UTAH TERRITORIAL MILITIA DURING THE CIVIL WAR" (PDF).
  6. ^ Todd H. Compton, notes to A Widow's Tale: The 1884-1896 Diary of Helen Mar Kimball Whitney (Logan: Utah State University Press, 2003), p. 735
  7. ^ "Gen. R. T. Burton Dies at Ripe Age". The Salt Lake Herald. 12 November 1907. p. 10. Retrieved 4 March 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
5 October 1884 – 11 November 1907 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric
9 October 1874 – 5 October 1884 		Succeeded by