Robert T. Burton


Robert Taylor Burton was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1874 until his death. He was also one of the principal officers in the Nauvoo Legion during its Utah reconstitution and led the territorial militia against the Morrisites during the 1862 Morrisite War.
Born in Amherstburg, Upper Canada, Burton was called by Presiding Bishop Edward Hunter to be his second counselor in 1874. Burton served in this capacity until Hunter's death in 1883. When William B. Preston was called to be the new Presiding Bishop in 1884, Burton was asked to serve as his first counselor. Burton served in this capacity until his death.
Burton joined the LDS Church in Upper Canada in 1838.
In 1856, Burton was part of the rescue party sent from Salt Lake City to assist the stranded Martin Handcart Company near the Sweetwater River. In 1870, Burton was tried and acquitted for the murder of Isabella Bowman, a person who had been killed by Utah militia while surrendering in the Morrisite War.
Burton practiced plural marriage and fathered 27 children. He married his first wife, Maria S. Haven in 1845. He married his other two wives, Sarah A. Garr and Susan E. McBride in 1856. He is the great-great-grandfather of a former presiding bishop of the LDS Church, H. David Burton.
Burton died at Salt Lake City and was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery.