Francis Robert Burton

Who is Francis Robert Burton?

Francis Robert Burton was a Public Servant in the early days of South Australia and is remembered for his work in improving penal treatment of delinquent boys.

He was born the second son of Dr. Richard Francis Burton, surgeon, of London. In 1852 the family migrated to South Australia and built a home "Bexley" in the Adelaide suburb of Sturt. Dr. Richard Francis Burton, aside from his private medical practice, from 1861 to 1874 provided subsidised medical aid to the poor of the Marion district. He served as Major in both the local and Adelaide regiments of the South Australian Volunteer Military Force, and was chairman of the District Council of Brighton from 1867 to 1873.

Francis Burton was, in his youth, a fine athlete, successfully competing in walking events. He was a prominent cricketer, secretary of the Kensington Cricket Club, where his older brother James R. Burton was also a member, and one of the first to be given life membership of the South Australian Cricketing Association. In the late 1850s he joined the Volunteer Regiment. Louisa Harriot Burton, who married Eden Herschel Babbage and settled in Roseville, New South Wales was a sister. His younger brother, William Burton, a banker, was also to settle in Roseville.