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North Carolina's Governors
Born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Hutchins Gordon Burton (1774-1836) was orphaned as a boy and reared by an uncle in what is now Vance (then Granville) County. He attended the University of North Carolina, studied law under Judge Leonard Henderson, and in 1806 began the practice of law in Charlotte. Burton was elected from Mecklenburg County State House in 1809, and from 1810 until 1816 served as the state's attorney general. In 1819 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served for five years. In his committee assignments, he focused largely on the workings of the post office, military and judicial affairs, and transportation. In 1824 Burton resigned his seat in Congress to begin his first term as governor, having been elected after six ballots over Montfort Stokes and Alfred Moore. As governor Burton emphasized the need for public education, especially on the primary level. Sadly, he observed, it was more difficult to obtain "the common rudiments of education" than when the state constitution was adopted half a century earlier. Though he also stressed the need for internal improvements, he considered education to be of greater importance. In 1825 the Literary Fund was created to support common schools. As governor, Burton was president of the board charged with the fund's management. Frustrated by the shortage of funds, Burton supported lotteries with educational objectives, including preparation of a state history. In 1825 Burton presided over the festivities associated with the visit of General Lafayette of Revolutionary War fame. Two years later he hosted the visit of future president, Martin Van Buren. Following his third term, Burton returned to Halifax and made plans to move to Texas. It was while en route to examine property there that he died near Lincolnton in 1836. He was interred at Beatty's Ford in the Unity Church cemetery.
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