Edward Burgess

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Edward Burgess (1848-91) was an American yacht designer, born June 30, 1848 in West Sandwich, Mass.

Edward is fifth son of Benjamin Franklin Burgess(1818-1876) and Cordelia Williams Ellis(1821-1876). The Burgess family were merchants who made their money in the West Indies trade and lost it in 1879. They had a summer residence in Beverly Farms.

Edward was educated at Harvard, graduating in 1871, and became secretary of the Boston Society of Natural History, in which capacity he edited the publications of the society. In 1879 he became instructor in entomology at Harvard, remaining until 1883. Financial reverses caused him to turn his attention to designing yachts. From his designs the Puritan was built, which easily defeated the Genesta (English) in the races for the America's cup in 1885. In 1886 his Mayflower led in the race with the English Galatea. In 1888 his fishing schooner Carrie E. Phillips distanced four competitors in the fisherman's race held in Boston harbor. His Volunteer won the America's cup against the Thistle, the special product of British genius, in the international races of 1887. His other yachts included the Mariquita, Minerva, and Gossoon, all of them remarkably swift sailing craft.

Edward married Caroline Louisa Sullivant on June 2nd, 1877 in Boston Mass. She was born 2 Nov 1852 in Columbus Ohio and is daughter of William Starling & Caroline Eudora (Sutton) Sullivant. They had two sons William Starling Burgess and Charles Paine Burgess. Edward died July 12, 1891 of Typhoid Fever. Caroline died 16 Sept. 16, 1891 in Boston Mass. of pneumonia. They are both buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery lot #1167 Geranium Path.

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  • The location of the early Burgess summer cottage is now Lynch Park in Beverly, Massachusetts. Latter it was owned by the Evans Family who hosted President Tafts 1910 summer "Whitehouse".
  • A map of Beverly Cove from the 1872 Atlas of Essex County plate 95, showing the Burgess cottage off Ober Street on Woodbury Point.
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