Edward Burgess

Who was Edward Burgess?

Edward Burgess was an American yacht designer, born June 30, 1848 in West Sandwich, Massachusetts.

Edward is fifth son of Benjamin Franklin Burgess and Cordelia Williams Ellis. The Burgess family were merchants who made their money in the West Indies trade and lost it in 1879. They had a summer residence in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Edward was educated at Harvard, graduating in 1871, and became secretary of the Boston Society of Natural History, in which capacity he edited the publications of the society, and published several memoirs on anatomical subjects. In 1879 he became instructor in entomology at Harvard, remaining until 1883. He traveled in Europe, and, in an amateur way, studied the principles of naval architecture, bringing his knowledge and judgment to the practical test of designing and building vessels for his own use. His success in this line was so marked that when, in 1883, a reverse of fortune threw him upon his own resources for a livelihood, he naturally turned to the designing of sailing yachts.