John L. Burnett

John Lawson Burnett (January 20, 1854 – May 13, 1919) was a U.S. Representative from Alabama, United States.

Life

Born in Cedar Bluff, Alabama, Burnett attended the common schools of the county, Wesleyan Institute, Cave Spring, Georgia, and the local high school at Gaylesville, Alabama.

Studies and Early Politics

He studied law and was graduated from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.

He was admitted to the bar in Cherokee County, Alabama, in 1876 and commenced practice in Gadsden. He served in the State house of representatives in 1884 and as member of the State senate in 1886.

Election

Burnett was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth and to the ten succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1899, until his death.

He served as chairman of the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization (Sixty-second through Sixty-fifth Congresses). On April 5, 1917, John Lawson Burnett was one of the 50 representatives who voted against declaring war on Germany (WWI).

He served as member of the United States Immigration Commission 1907-1910.

Death

John L. Burnett died in Gadsden, Alabama, May 13, 1919 and was interred in Forest Cemetery.

References

• John L. Burnett at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.