DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells this one, and I'm just here to do it justice. Now, some names you carry your whole life and they still feel too big for any one person to hold. David Gouverneur Burnet might be one of those names.
He was born April 14, 1788, in Newark, New Jersey — about as far from the Texas plains as you can get without falling into the Atlantic. And yet this man would go on to leave his mark on Texas in ways that few others ever did. He showed up as a delegate to the Second Convention of Texas in 1833.
The following year, 1834, he served as Judge of the Department of the Brazos. And in 1835, there he was again — delegate to the Consultation. The man kept answering the call.
Then came 1836. And if you know anything about Texas history, you know that year was not a quiet one. On March 16, David Gouverneur Burnet became President Ad Interim of the Republic of Texas.
He held that office through October 22, 1836. Ad Interim — meaning in between, meaning the weight of a republic rested on his shoulders while everything was still being sorted out. That is not a small thing.
He wasn't done. On November 10, 1838, he took office as Vice President, serving through December 13, 1841. And somewhere in between all of that, on May 29, 1839, he participated in the battle with the Cherokees.
By 1846, he was serving as Secretary of State. David Gouverneur Burnet died in Galveston, Texas, on December 5, 1870. A man born in New Jersey, who died a Texan — and in between those two dates, helped hold a republic together at the exact moment it needed holding.
Some folks pass through history. Others show up when it counts.
What the marker says
[center front] David Gouverneur Burnet - [left front] Born April 14 - 1788 - in Newark - New Jersey - Died in Galveston - Texas - December - 5 - 1870 - Delegate to the Second Convention of Texas - 1833 - Judge of the Department of the Brazos - 1834 - Delegate to the Consultation 1835 - [right front] President - Ad Interim - Of the Republic of Texas - March 16 to October 22 - 1836 - Vice President - November 10 - 1838 to December 13 - 1841 - Participated in the battle with the Cherokees May 29 - 1839 - Secretary of State - 1846