History of New Berlin, (Chenango County) New York United States of America

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Anson Burlingame, statesman, was born in New Berlin, N. Y., Nov. 14, 1820. His ancestors were among the first settlers of Rhode Island. His early education was received in the schools of Seneca county, Ohio, whither his father had removed in 1823, and later in those of Detroit. Mich., where the family settled in 1833. His collegiate training was gained at the University of Michigan, and he subsequently entered the law school at Harvard college, where he was graduated in 1846. He engaged in the practice of the law in Boston, and took an active part in the Free Soil movement, attaining some distinction as an orator during the political campaign of 1848. In 1852 he was elected to the state senate, and in 1853 was a member of the convention for revising the constitution of Massachusetts. In 1854 he joined the American party, by whom he was elected a representative in the 34th Congress. In Congress he was distinguished for his eloquence in upholding anti-slavery principles. His denunciation of Preston S. Brooks, for his assault upon Charles Sumner, called out a challenge which he accepted, naming rifles as the weapons, and Canada as the place of combat. Mr. Brooks objected to these arrangements and the duel was never fought. Mr. Burlingame was a representative in the 35th and 36th congresses, and his non-election to the 37th, in 1860, terminated his congressional service. He was appointed minister to Austria by Mr. Lincoln, but that government refused to receive him because of opinions expressed by him regarding the politics of Austria. He was subsequently sent as minister to China, where his wise diplomacy benefited the commerce of the United States, and where he succeeded in framing articles supplementary to the treaty of 1858, which was China's first formal recognition of international law and was known as the Burlingame Treaty. The Chinese regent and prime minister, Prince Kung, appreciated Mr. Burlingame's services so highly that when, in 1867, he was about to return home that official requested him to act as special envoy to the United States government and the principal European powers, to establish with them treaties on behalf of China, and before the close of 1869 he had concluded satisfactory treaties with the United States, Great Britain, Sweden, Prussia, Holland, and Denmark, and while negotiating one with Russia, at St. Petersburg, he was stricken with pneumonia, and after a short illness died on February 23, 1870.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of New Berlin, (Chenango County) New York

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