Advertisement

Aaron Burr Sr.

Advertisement

Aaron Burr Sr. Famous memorial

Birth
Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA
Death
24 Sep 1757 (aged 41)
Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA
Burial
Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA GPS-Latitude: 40.352417, Longitude: -74.6600926
Plot
Section 1, Block W, Lot 233, Grave 1
Memorial ID
View Source
Second President of Princeton University. He was recognized during colonial America as a Presbyterian minister and a college educator, who was credited as one of the founders of the College of New Jersey, which became Princeton University. He served as the college's second president. Born the son of a wealthy farmer, he was the third generation in the colonies, who originally immigrated from England. He attended Yale College, which eventually became Yale University, graduating in 1735 with a degree in religious studies. At one point, he studied law with his brother-in-law Tapping Reeve. . Upon graduation, he became a Presbyterian Minister in Newark where he also opened a school for classical studies, to earn extra money. In 1752, he married Esther Edwards, daughter of the Rev. Jonathan Edward and his wife Sarah Pierpont. The couple had a daughter and a son, Aaron Burr, Jr., who would later become the third Vice President of the United States. In the 1740s, a controversy on religious doctrine split Yale College, and in opposition to Yale's president, the Reverend Thomas Clap; the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, the Rev. Jonathan Dickinson; and Burr founded the College of New Jersey in 1746. Sponsored by the Presbyterian Church, the school received its charter from King George II, and was one of the first colleges to admit students of all faiths. The first classes were held in 1747 at Dickinson's home in Elizabeth. Dickinson was elected to be the first President of the new college, but several months after taking office, he died, and Burr was selected as the second President, serving nine years. During the period from 1748 to 1757, Burr settled the curriculum, oversaw the significant increase in students, and twice moved the college, first in 1748 to Newark and then in 1756 to Princeton, the school's permanent home. There he supervised the actual construction of Nassau Hall, Princeton University's best-known building, which was completed in 1756. At the age of 32, Burr currently holds the record as the youngest President in Princeton's history. In 1755, suffering from overwork, Burr resigned from his religious pastoral duties to be a full-time college president. After traveling for a sermon at the funeral of Massachusetts Governor Jonathan Belcher in August, he developed a fever and died in the early fall of 1757, which may have been related to his already low resistance from overwork. The Rev. Jonathan Edwards became the college's third president. As an honor, Burr's remains were buried in the newly created President's Lot of the Princeton Cemetery. Later, a few days short of seven months, his widow died orphaning their three-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.
Second President of Princeton University. He was recognized during colonial America as a Presbyterian minister and a college educator, who was credited as one of the founders of the College of New Jersey, which became Princeton University. He served as the college's second president. Born the son of a wealthy farmer, he was the third generation in the colonies, who originally immigrated from England. He attended Yale College, which eventually became Yale University, graduating in 1735 with a degree in religious studies. At one point, he studied law with his brother-in-law Tapping Reeve. . Upon graduation, he became a Presbyterian Minister in Newark where he also opened a school for classical studies, to earn extra money. In 1752, he married Esther Edwards, daughter of the Rev. Jonathan Edward and his wife Sarah Pierpont. The couple had a daughter and a son, Aaron Burr, Jr., who would later become the third Vice President of the United States. In the 1740s, a controversy on religious doctrine split Yale College, and in opposition to Yale's president, the Reverend Thomas Clap; the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, the Rev. Jonathan Dickinson; and Burr founded the College of New Jersey in 1746. Sponsored by the Presbyterian Church, the school received its charter from King George II, and was one of the first colleges to admit students of all faiths. The first classes were held in 1747 at Dickinson's home in Elizabeth. Dickinson was elected to be the first President of the new college, but several months after taking office, he died, and Burr was selected as the second President, serving nine years. During the period from 1748 to 1757, Burr settled the curriculum, oversaw the significant increase in students, and twice moved the college, first in 1748 to Newark and then in 1756 to Princeton, the school's permanent home. There he supervised the actual construction of Nassau Hall, Princeton University's best-known building, which was completed in 1756. At the age of 32, Burr currently holds the record as the youngest President in Princeton's history. In 1755, suffering from overwork, Burr resigned from his religious pastoral duties to be a full-time college president. After traveling for a sermon at the funeral of Massachusetts Governor Jonathan Belcher in August, he developed a fever and died in the early fall of 1757, which may have been related to his already low resistance from overwork. The Rev. Jonathan Edwards became the college's third president. As an honor, Burr's remains were buried in the newly created President's Lot of the Princeton Cemetery. Later, a few days short of seven months, his widow died orphaning their three-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.

Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson


Inscription

(He has on his flat marker a long inscription written in Latin)



Advertisement

Advertisement

How famous was Aaron Burr Sr.?

Current rating: 3.7439 out of 5 stars

82 votes

Sign-in to cast your vote.

  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Apr 25, 1998
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1683/aaron-burr: accessed ), memorial page for Aaron Burr Sr. (4 Jan 1716–24 Sep 1757), Find a Grave Memorial ID 1683, citing Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.