Zacheus Burnham

Who was Zacheus Burnham?

Zacheus Burnham was a farmer, judge and political figure in Upper Canada.

He was born in 1777. He arrived in Upper Canada in 1797 and settled in Hamilton Township near the current site of Cobourg. He was able to acquire large land holdings, thousands of acres, in the region, some as compensation for survey work. He also helped in the economic development of the Newcastle District, building sawmills and grist mills on his property. He was also involved in the development of transportation links in the region and operated a large and productive farm. He served as a captain in the local militia during the War of 1812 and, in 1813, became a justice of the peace. He was elected to the 7th Parliament of Upper Canada representing Northumberland and Durham. In 1831, he was appointed to the Legislative Council for the province and, in 1839, he was appointed a judge in the Newcastle District court.

He died in Cobourg in 1857.