Page 33 - Hindsight Issue 26 April 2020

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in 1847 and 1848 and he steered the oxford crew that won the grand Challenge Cup there in 1851. He was elected to be the President of the oxford University Boat Club for 1847–48.
After oxford he returned to Daventry to take up practice at his father’s solicitors’ firm, Burton and Willoughby, which was based in the Moot Hall. He maintained his sporting interests, particularly being a fine runner and horseman, with some viewing him as the best all-round athlete in the country. As a sprinter he beat sir Charles Astley, the fastest sprinter in the Crimean Army, with ease. As a horseman he won the first two national Hunt Chases on ‘Bridegroom’ and ‘Queensferry’ in 1860 and 1861 respectively. Although he did not ride a grand national winner he had a stake in ‘Alcibiade’ that won the race in 1865. He was a founder of the grand national Hunt Committee and played a part in its development, becoming its Chairman in 1889. Burton was also well-known in hunting circles, being a prominent member of the Pytchley Hunt and keeping ‘a fine stable’.
In Daventry Burton fulfilled a number of high profile public service roles, alongside his private legal practice. In 1853 he became the third member of his family to fill the position of town Clerk, following his father, e s Burton, and grandfather; he held this post until retiring in 1884. He was the long-time leader of the Daventry Volunteer Corps, a Company of the northamptonshire Rifle Volunteers, holding a Queen’s Commission in the Corps from its formation in 1860 and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel of the Volunteers in 1893. As a mark of respect for the long service he was allowed to keep his rank and wear the uniform after his retirement. In Daventry he held the posts of Clerk to the Magistrates for the Petty sessional Division, solicitor of the Daventry gas Company, Chairman and solicitor of the Daventry grammar school governors and Patron of the Daventry Fire Brigade. Beyond the town he was Clerk to the County Magistrates, Clerk to the Banbury & Lutterworth turnpike Road trustees and Clerk to the old stratford & Dunchurch turnpike Road. After retirement from the town Clerkship, he embarked on a political career and from 1892 until his death he was elected five times unopposed as the County Councillor for Daventry.
At the age of 80 Burton still went out with the Hunt. on 9 April 1907 he attended the meet of the Bucks otter Hounds at spratton when he was taken ill and had to be carried on a hurdle to a nearby house. He never recovered his health and died on 20 August 1907. At his funeral his coffin was draped in the oxford University Boat Club flag.
In its obituary the Northampton Mercury described Burton as ‘the best known and most popular inhabitant’ in Daventry. Despite his achievements this was a controversial judgment since many people, particularly working people in Daventry, remembered Burton’s opposition to the proposed Recreation ground to
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