William Burnet (1688-1728)

William Burnet (March, 1688-September 7, 1728) was a British civil servant and colonial administrator who served as governor of New York and New Jersey (1720-1728) and Massachusetts (1728).

Related Topics:
1688 - September 7 - 1728 - British - New York - New Jersey - 1720 - Massachusetts

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was the son of the noted divine Gilbert Burnet and Mary Scott, born at the Hague in the Netherlands in March of 1688. He was the godson of William (later King William III) and Mary. He was an excellent but undisciplined scholar who entered Oxford at the age of 13, but was dismissed for disciplinary reasons. His later education came from private tutoring (including Isaac Newton as a tutor), and he was ultimately admitted to the bar.

Related Topics:
Gilbert Burnet - The Hague - Netherlands - King William III - Oxford - Isaac Newton

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With friends in the government, he was appointed the Comptroller of Customs in England before his terms as a colonial governor. He was married twice. His first wife was the daughter of Dean Stanhope and she died in 1717. He married again in New York to Anna Maria Van Horne, the daughter of Abraham and Mary Van Horne.

Related Topics:
Comptroller - England - 1717

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~