Voting Station

John Pierre Burr

Please vote to return to collections.

Advocate

The Resume

    (August 26, 1792-April 4, 1864)
    Son of Vice President Aaron Burr and governess Mary Emmons
    Abolitionist
    Member of the Vigilance Committee of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society
    Formally recognized by the Aaron Burr Association based on family records and DNA evidence (2018)

Why he might be annoying:

    He sometimes used 'Jean' as his first name.
    He ran a 'whites only' barbershop from his Philadelphia home.
    Although he was a member of Philly's African-American community, he may not have actually been black, as there is uncertainty whether his mother came from Haiti or from Calcutta, India.

Why he might not be annoying:

    As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, he took advantage of his light skin: if questioned while escorting a fugitive slave to their next stop, he would say he was taking a walk with his servant.
    He founded the Demosthenian Institute to train young black men in public speaking.
    He protested against an attempt by the state legislature to disenfranchise free blacks (1838).
    He raised money for the successful defense of the Christiana resistors, a mixed group of black and white men charged with treason for violating the Fugitive Slave Act by preventing federal marshals from seizing four escaped slaves (1851).
    He was one of the signatories of Frederick Douglass' Civil War recruiting poster, 'Men of Color, To Arms!'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 8 Votes: 12.50% Annoying