It had been generally known for some weeks that Mr. Burgess had been seriously ill with typhoid fever at his Boston home, but of late the news had been so reassuring, at least in the reports that have appeared in the papers, that there was no thought of a fatal termination, Late last week, however, he experienced a serious relapse which resulted in his death on 12th July at 4p. m. Edward Burgess was the fourth of the five sons of Benjamin F. Burgess, a wealthy Boston merchant and ship owner. Edward was born at Sandwich, Barnstaple county, Mass, on June 30th, 1848, and like all of his brothers was familiar with boats from his early years. In the ten years from 1870 to 1880 their yachts—and they owned many—were famous about Beverly, Marblehead and Nahant as prize winners, always being well handled; while in model and outfit they were generally ahead of their fellows. As a boy young Burgess fitted for college at Opes S. Di well's private Latin school in Boston, entering Harvard College and graduating in 1871. With al! his love for yachting and open air life, Mr. Burgess' was by nature a student, quiet, thoughtful and retiring; a great deal of his time when in college and after graduation being devoted to natural history, in particular to entomology, in which he was long recognised as an authority. In 1872 he was elected secretary of the Society of Natural History of Boston, which office he held for fifteen years, when the pressure of his new profession compelled him to resign While on a trip through Europe some time after leaving college, he became acquainted with Miss Catherine L. Sullivant, of Columbus, and they were married in 1877.
Mr. Burgess was never idle; he was instructor in entomology at Harvard for many years, while a great deal of his time was given to mathematical studies, but it was not until the failure of his father, about 1880, that he went into business, forming with his brother Sidney the firm of Burgess Brothers, yacht designers and agents, at
yachtsman and an amateur designer natur-13 Exchange place, Boston. His skill as a ally led him to select a vocation so closely allied with his tastes, but for a time the work of the firm, which was practically Mr. Burgess alone, his brother soon withdrawing, was merely buying and selling yachts. His first order for a design was in 1884, when he turned out the cutter Rondino, a staunch little cruiser that has made her name known along the whole Eastern coast, for Dr. W. F, Whitney. When, in the same year, the news came of challenge from the fastest cutter in Great Britain for the America's Cup, held by the New York Y. C., Mr. Burgess had nothing more imposing to show of his work than this same little cutter, but he had among his friends men with the pride of Boston and the East at heart, and with sufficient confidence in him to venture with his aid on a task that was commonly condemned as presumptuous and absurd, Although a part of the credit must be given to associates who shared the risk and cest, the leader among them being Gen. Paine, to Mr, Burgess was intrusted the task of designing and superintending the new venture, soon to become famous everywhere as the Puritan, How she came to New York almost unnoticed, save for the sneers of the papers and the usual anon; mous prominent yachtsman," how she carried all before her in the trial races, and later om defeated the Genesta twice; how she was followed next year by Mayflower and a year later by Volunteer, each repeat-1g the victory of Puritan, is a tale too familiar to need, telling again, After Puritan came Sachem, schooner, Titania, cutter, Pappoose, cutter, and the long I that was crowned when last season closed by little Gossoon. Of this year's work it too early to speak yet, not until the season closes can the final result be known, but the fleet whose accounts are already practically closed through the short life accorded to all modern racing boats before they are outclassed, have made @ reputation for their creator which will live long as yachts are sailed. Though his fame rests chiefly on his yachts, Mr. Burgess has done equally good work in different lines, fishermen, pilot boats and other craft. In 1887 he w: i Secretary Whitney as one on to pass upon the designs ships, holding the office until his dea He was one of the first members of t Eastern Y, C., and for many years its secretary. In 1888 he was appointed permanent chairman of the Board of Life-Saving Appliances. That Mr. Burgess's home life was peculiarly happy will be readily apparent to all who knew his kindly, gentle and agreeable disposition. His winters were spent in a handsome house built by him on Beacon street, Boston, and his summers in a large cottage on Marblehead Harbor. He leaves two children, William Starling Burgess, about 13 years of age, and Charles Paine Burgess, about 3 years,—Forest and Stream.
From a later number of Forest and Stream we learn that the total number of yachts designed by Mr. Burgess was 206, divided as follows: cutters 88, sloops 17, yawl 1, cats 29, schooners 23, steam yachts 35, fishing vessels 8, pilot boats 3, working schooners 2. This list covers a period of seven years, during three of which, '85, '86, and '87, almost the entire yachting season was given up to the sailing of the Puritan, Maygiower, and Volunteer in practice and the trial and cup races. A number of the above vessels were designed for the specific purpose of beating known boats, as in the cases of the Puritan, Mayflower and Gossoon, task of far greater magnitude than merely tuming out a good boat to a certain class. In the case of others, such as the fishermen and pilot boats, the work was purely experimental, and at the same time the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.