Appointed by Woodrow Wilson Profession Lawyer Party Democratic Party Political party Democratic Education University of Iowa | Preceded by Elmore Y. Sarles Spouse Mary Keene (m. 1891) Preceded by Carmi A. Thompson Name John Burke Succeeded by Frank White | |
 | ||
Lieutenant Robert S. Lewis
Usher L. Burdick Role Former Governor of North Dakota Died May 14, 1937, Rochester, Minnesota, United States Previous office Governor of North Dakota (1907–1913) | ||
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.
Contents
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.
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.