James Edmund Burke Explained

James Edmund Burke
Office1:18th, 20th, 22nd, and 27th Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
Term Start1:April 3, 1933
Term End1:March 31, 1935
Predecessor1:John Holmes Jackson
Successor1:Louis F. Dow
Term Start2:April 7, 1913
Term End2:April 4, 1915
Predecessor2:Robert Roberts
Successor2:Albert S. Drew
Term Start3:April 5, 1909
Term End3:April 2, 1911
Predecessor3:Walter J. Bigelow
Successor3:Robert Roberts
Term Start4:June 1, 1903[1]
Term End4:March 31, 1907
Predecessor4:Donly C. Hawley
Successor4:Walter J. Bigelow
Office5:Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Burlington
Term Start5:1937
Term End5:1939
Predecessor5:Justin Kelly
Successor5:John J. Burns
Term Start6:1931
Term End6:1935
Predecessor6:Hamilton S. Peck
Successor6:Justin Kelly
Term Start7:1925
Term End7:1927
Predecessor7:Levi P. Smith
Successor7:Hamilton S. Peck
Birth Date:23 April 1849
Birth Place:Williston, Vermont, U.S.
Death Place:Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Restingplace:Saint Joseph Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Sarah Roakes (m. 1870)
Children:10
Occupation:Blacksmith

James Edmund Burke (April 23, 1849 – May 4, 1943) was an American politician who served as the 18th, 20th, 22nd, and 27th mayor of Burlington, Vermont. A Democrat, he also served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1925 to 1927, 1931 to 1935, and 1937 to 1939.

Early life

James Edmund Burke was born in Williston, Vermont on April 23, 1849, a son of Irish immigrants James and Ann Burke; his parents named him for Irish statesman Edmund Burke.[2] [3] He was educated in the public schools of Williston and at Williston Academy.[4] In 1870 Burke married Sarah Roakes and in May 1873, they moved to Burlington, where he worked as a blacksmith.[5] [6]

Burlington politics and government

Burke became involved in politics as a Democrat in the 1890s and was a founder of Burlington's Young Men's Democratic Club.[7] [8] [9] He became involved in Burlington's city affairs when he was appointed to local positions including election day ballot clerk, and he was elected an alderman from the 4th Ward in 1893.[10] [11] In the mid to late 1890s, Burke also served on the school board and as a member of the board of police commissioners.[12] [13] [14]

In 1900 he made his first attempt for Burlington's mayoralty, but was defeated by incumbent Robert Roberts.[15] In 1902 he ran for mayor against incumbent Mayor Donly C. Hawley and was defeated in a landslide along with the rest of the city Democrats.[16]

In 1903 he ran against Hawley again and was initially defeated by three votes, but after a recount and a ruling by the state supreme court Burke was declared as the winner in May.[17] [18] During his first term as mayor, Burke suspended the chief of police and launched an investigation into the police department, oversaw the establishment of the city's electric department and completion of the electrical infrastructure construction.[19] [20] He was easily reelected in 1904 against R. E. Brown with 1,965 votes to 1,495 votes.[21] Burke served as Burlington's postmaster 1915 to 1923.[22]

In 1929 he ran for mayor of Burlington and was defeated in a landslide by former mayor John Holmes Jackson with 3,425 votes to 2,354 votes.[23] During the 1933 Burlington mayoral election incumbent Mayor Jackson chose not to run for reelection and endorsed Burke.[24] In his fourth term he oversaw the creation of what would become the Burlington International Airport; in 1934, during his 5th term, he presented to Amelia Earhart the keys to the city at the airport.[25]

State politics and government

In 1900 and 1902 he was selected as one of Burlington's delegates to the Vermont Democratic state convention. In 1902, Burke ran for Vermont Secretary of State. In 1904 he served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.[26] [27] [28] He was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Governor of Vermont in 1908.[14]

In 1912, Burke engaged in an extended feud with Thomas H. Browne, Vermont's member of the Democratic National Committee and unsuccessfully attempted to have him replaced by James E. Burke of West Rutland.[29] Later that year, Burke campaigned for Woodrow Wilson for president.[29] During World War I, Burke joined a statewide speaker's bureau that made speeches in support of fundraising for the American Red Cross and other wartime causes.[30] [31]

Burke represented Burlington in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1925 to 1927, 1931 to 1935, and 1937 to 1939.[14] In his final term, Burke was the oldest member of the legislature, and was recognized as the dean of the House.[32]

Death and burial

On May 4, 1943, Burke died in Burlington after a short illness. He was buried at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Burlington.[33]

References

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Notes and References

  1. News: Mayor Burke Now . 1 June 1903 . The Burlington Free Press . https://web.archive.org/web/20191209072149/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40307550/the_burlington_free_press/ . 9 December 2019 . live . 5 . Newspapers.com.
  2. Web site: Burlington's Ethnic Communities,1860-1900 . Feeney . Vincent . Keleher . Brendan . Vermont History . 24 September 2019.
  3. News: Vermont's Irish . Gardner . Jan . Boston.com . 2019-09-24.
  4. Book: 1931 . Vermont Legislative Directory . Montpelier, VT . Vermont Secretary of State . 450 . Google Books.
  5. News: James Burke . 24 April 1943 . The Burlington Free Press . https://web.archive.org/web/20191208210656/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40277808/the_burlington_free_press/ . 8 December 2019 . live . 10 . Newspapers.com.
  6. Kenehan . Roady . March 1909 . Blacksmith Again In Field . International Horseshoers' Monthly Magazine . Denver, CO . International Union of Journeymen Horseshoers of the United States and Canada . 8 . Google Books.
  7. News: February 13, 1891 . Young Men's Democratic Club . The Burlington Independent . Burlington, VT . 5 . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: April 6, 1892 . Democratic Caucus . The Earth . Burlington, VT . 5 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: May 21, 1896 . Democratic Caucuses . Burlington Clipper . Burlington, VT . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: September 2, 1892 . Ballot Clerks Appointed . . Burlington, VT . 5 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: March 11, 1893 . Democratic Aldermen Elect . . Burlington, VT . 4 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: April 6, 1895 . Our City Officers . The Burlington Independent . Burlington, VT . 5 . Newspapers.com.
  13. News: October 21, 1899 . To Remove Chief Smith . Burlington Clipper . Burlington, VT . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: April 29, 1943 . James E. Burke, Former Burlington Mayor, Dead . Herald and News . Randolph, VT . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  15. News: Election Notice . 7 March 1900 . The Burlington Free Press. https://web.archive.org/web/20191209065647/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40307035/the_burlington_free_press/ . 9 December 2019 . live . 8 . Newspapers.com.
  16. News: Mayor Hawley Again . 5 March 1902 . The Burlington Free Press. https://web.archive.org/web/20191209072900/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40307583/the_burlington_free_press/ . 9 December 2019 . live . 5 . Newspapers.com.
  17. News: The Result In Burlington . 7 March 1903 . Burlington Clipper . https://web.archive.org/web/20191209071732/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40307449/burlington_clipper/ . 9 December 2019 . live . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  18. News: Burke Is Declared Mayor . 28 May 1903 . Montpelier Evening Argus . https://web.archive.org/web/20191209071956/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40307462/montpelier_evening_argus/ . 9 December 2019 . live . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  19. Web site: Our History Burlington Electric Department. www.burlingtonelectric.com. 2019-09-24.
  20. News: Police Chief Is Removed . 8 June 1903 . The Barre Daily Times . https://web.archive.org/web/20191209074746/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40307920/the_barre_daily_times/ . 9 December 2019 . live . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  21. News: James E. Burke Re-Elected Mayor of Burlington by a Plurality of 505 . 2 March 1904 . The Burlington Free Press . https://web.archive.org/web/20191209073958/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40307827/the_burlington_free_press/ . 9 December 2019 . live . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  22. News: January 25, 1915 . Jas. E. Burke Is Appointed Postmaster . Burlington Daily News . Burlington, VT . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  23. News: Jackson Overwhlems Burke In Mayoralty Contest . 6 March 1929 . The Burlington Free Press . https://web.archive.org/web/20191204095430/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40058203/the_burlington_free_press/ . 4 December 2019 . live . 10 . Newspapers.com.
  24. News: Jackson Says He Will Support Burke for Mayor . 18 February 1933 . The Burlington Free Press . https://web.archive.org/web/20190516015941/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31546550/jackson_says_he_will_support_burke_for/ . 16 May 2019 . live . 9 . Newspapers.com.
  25. Tabor, James M., Burlington International Airport: A History 1920–2010, Transcontinental Metrolitho, Inc., 2010
  26. News: Burke Is Declared Mayor . 22 June 1904 . St. Albans Daily Messenger . https://web.archive.org/web/20191209073232/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40307743/st_albans_daily_messenger/ . 9 December 2019 . live . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  27. News: Burlington Democrats . 9 June 1900 . Burlington Clipper . https://web.archive.org/web/20191209070018/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40307147/burlington_clipper/ . 9 December 2019 . live . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  28. News: Democrats Fused . 19 July 1902 . Burlington Clipper . https://web.archive.org/web/20191209070524/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40307228/burlington_clipper/ . 9 December 2019 . live . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  29. News: June 1, 1912 . Democratic Doings In State . . St. Albans, VT . 1 . Newspapers.com.
  30. News: April 7, 1917 . Great Patriotic Demonstration at the Strong: James E. Burke . Burlington Daily News . Burlington, VT . 6 . Newspapers.com.
  31. News: June 19, 1917 . City News: Postmaster James E. Burke Will Speak To-Night In Wallingford . . Burlington, VT . 8 . Newspapers.com.
  32. News: March 2, 1939 . Aiken Presides Over reunion of '33 Legislature . . Burlington, VT . 2 . Newspapers.com.
  33. News: James Burke, 94, Burlington, Dies . 24 April 1943 . The Brattleboro Reformer . https://web.archive.org/web/20191208210032/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40277416/the_brattleboro_reformer/ . 8 December 2019 . live . 8 . Newspapers.com.

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