David Gouverneur Burnet

David Gouverneur Burnet centered his career efforts in Texas.

Burnet was born April 4, 1788, in Newark, New Jersey. Before entering politics, Burnet served under Francisco de Miranda in 1806 in an endeavor to liberate Venezuela from Spain. He also studied law and pursued careers in business and speculation.

Burnet relocated to Texas and presided as a Texas district judge in 1834. In 1836 he participated at the Washington-on-the-Brazos Convention, where he drafted the Texas Declaration of Independence; in 1836 he served as the president ad interim of the Republic of Texas. He subsequently resigned, but returned to perform the duties of vice president. From 1846 to 1847 he acted as the secretary of state of Texas, the first person to hold such a position in the newly formed state.

Burnet died December 5, 1870, in Galveston, Texas.