John Burke (politician)

John Burke (February 25, 1859 – May 14, 1937) was an American lawyer, jurist, and political leader from North Dakota. He was the tenth Governor of North Dakota.[1]

John Burke
Governor Burke, 1908
24th Treasurer of the United States
In office April 1, 1913 – January 5, 1921
Appointed by	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	Carmi A. Thompson
Succeeded by	Frank White
10th Governor of North Dakota
In office January 9, 1907 – January 8, 1913
Lieutenant	Robert S. Lewis Usher L. Burdick
Preceded by	Elmore Y. Sarles
Succeeded by	L. B. Hanna
Member of the North Dakota Senate
In office 1893–1896
Member of the North Dakota House of Representatives
In office 1891
Personal details
Born	February 25, 1859 Keokuk County, Iowa, U.S.
Died	May 14, 1937 (aged 78) Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Kane
Profession	Lawyer
Signature

Biography

Burke was born in Keokuk County, Iowa of Irish ancestry to John and Mary (née Ryan) Burke. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a law degree in 1886. He married Mary E. Kane, a teacher, on August 22, 1891, and they had a son, Thomas, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Marian.[2]

Career

Burke's legal career was established in Iowa and Minnesota before he moved to the Dakota Territory. After North Dakota was admitted to the union, he served in the state's House of Representatives in 1891 and in its Senate from 1893 to 1896. He served three terms (1907–1913) as the tenth Governor of North Dakota.

At the 1912 Democratic National Convention in Baltimore, Burke enthusiastically supported the candidacy of Woodrow Wilson. Burke swung all of North Dakota's votes to Wilson on the first ballot. William Jennings Bryan, himself a supporter of Wilson and also a good friend of Burke's, wanted Burke to run for Vice-President. Burke demurred, however, due to a promise he had given Indiana delegates for their votes. As a result, Thomas R. Marshall of Indiana was chosen for Vice-President. Burke was named United States Treasurer following Wilson’s election victory in November 1912. From 1913 to 1921 Burke was Treasurer of the United States, under President Woodrow Wilson. Burke ran unsuccessfully for the United States Senate in 1916.

Death and legacy

He later served as a justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court from 1924 until his death on May 14, 1937. Burke County, North Dakota is named in his honor. His remains are interred in Saint Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck, North Dakota. The State of North Dakota donated a statue of Burke to the United States Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection in 1963. There is also a statue of Burke at the State Capitol grounds in Bismarck, ND.

Statue of John Burke at the State Capitol grounds, Bismarck, ND.

See also

• List of Liberty ships
• Liberty Ship SS John Burke

References

1. "John Burke". National Governors Association. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
2. "John Burke". Soylent Communications. Retrieved September 5, 2012.

External links

• John Burke Papers at The University of North Dakota
• National Statuary Hall Collection includes biography and photo of statue.
• John Burke at Find a Grave
• National Governors Association