William A. M. Burden Sr.
William A. M. Burden Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Armistead Moale Burden July 11, 1877 |
| Died | February 2, 1909 (aged 31) Manhattan, New York |
| Education | Groton School |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Occupation | stockbroker |
| Spouse |
Florence Vanderbilt Twombly
(m. 1904) |
| Children | William A. M. Burden Jr. Shirley Carter Burden |
| Parent(s) | I. Townsend Burden Evelyn Byrd Moale Burden |
William Armistead Moale Burden Sr. (July 11, 1877 – February 2, 1909) was an American football guard for the Harvard Crimson football team and stock broker.
Early life
[edit]Burden was born on July 11, 1877 in Troy, New York to millionaire iron manufacturer I. Townsend Burden and Evelyn Byrd (Moale) Burden. He attended Groton School where he was a member of the school's football team. In 1895, he succeeded Percy Haughton as team captain.[1]
Harvard
[edit]Burden played on the Harvard freshman football team in 1896. The following season he became the backup center on the varsity team. In 1898 he became a starting guard and in 1899 was the team captain.[1] Following his senior season, Burden was named a second-team All-American by the New York Tribune and Outing and a third-team All-American by Walter Camp.[2][3][4] Outside of football, Burden was first marshall and president of his class as well as president of the Hasty Pudding and Groton clubs. Burden graduated from Harvard in 1900.[1]
Career
[edit]Immediately after leaving school, Burden, Francis Lee Higginson, John L. Saltonstall, and Augustus Jay took a trip around the world.[1] He eventually returned to New York City, where he worked for James D. Smith & Co.[5] On August 19, 1903, he purchased a seat on the New York Stock Exchange from Henry G. Weil for $60,000.[6]
On October 1, 1907, Burden retired as a floor member of James D. Smith & Co. due to ill health. He was sent abroad to recover, however his health did not improve.[5]
Personal life
[edit]On April 12, 1904, he married Florence Vanderbilt Twombly, daughter of Hamilton McKown Twombly and Florence Vanderbilt Twombly and a granddaughter of William Henry Vanderbilt, at Saint Thomas Church in Manhattan.[7] The couple had two sons, William A. M. Burden Jr. (who became the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium) and Shirley Carter Burden (who became a prominent photographer).[8]
On December 2, 1908, The New York Times reported that his unknown illness had gotten worse and he had been bedridden for several months.[9] Doctors were unable to diagnose or treat Burden's illness, which was described by The New York Times as a "chronic recurrent fever" that "attacks the patient suddenly...if he recovers, the only thing to do is prepare him for the next attack, which is sure to come".[5] He died on February 2, 1909, aged 31, at his home in Manhattan.[1][5]
Legacy
[edit]In 1971, Burden's widow and sons donated Burden Hall to Harvard Business School in honor of him and his grandson, William A. M. Burden III, who also died young.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "William A. M. Burden Dead; Was Captain of Harvard's Football Eleven in '99 and a New York Broker". The Boston Daily Globe. February 3, 1909.
- ^ "Other All-America Football Teams". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 11, 1899.
- ^ "Football" (PDF). The Outing Magazine. January 1900.
- ^ "Sport of the Amateur on Field and Water". Collier's Weekly. 24 (15): 20. January 13, 1900 – via Google books.
- ^ a b c d "W.A. M. Burden Dies of Strange Malady; Chronic Recurrent Fever the Only Name Physicians Can Give It – No Remedy". The Boston Daily Globe. February 3, 1909.
- ^ "Bear Leader Sells Seat; Henry G. Weil Disposes of It to W. A. M. Burden for $60,000". The New York Times. August 20, 1903.
- ^ "World of Fashion At The Twombly Wedding; William A.M. Burden Marries H. McK. Twombly's daughter". The New York Times. April 13, 1904.
- ^ a b Kush, Linda (March 1, 2019). "The Burden Legacy". Alumni - Harvard Business School.
- ^ "WM. A. M. Burden, Long Ill, Is Worse". The New York Times. December 2, 1908.
