Joseph Burnett (1820–1894), educator, was born in Southborough, Massachusetts in November, 1820 and died there in 1894. He was an innovator in the production of premium vanilla extract in the United States. Vanilla extract was previously imported from France and made by processes which were proprietary secrets. He was a manufacturer of pharmacy and foods and the family remained in business for over a century. He was the founder of St. Mark's School (Massachusetts) an Episcopalian boarding school. His son Edward Burnett served a term as a United States Congressman. Edward's wife Mabel Lowell the daughter of James Russell Lowell inherited her father's house Elmwood currently home to the President of Harvard University.