Background
He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, November 8, 1823(?) to Charles and Jessie (Kennedy) Burt.
He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, November 8, 1823(?) to Charles and Jessie (Kennedy) Burt.
While still in Scotland, he was apprenticed to William Home Lizars.
He showed a gift for drawing at a young age. He emigrated to New York in 1836, and went to work for Alexander L. Dick. Under his employ, Burt illustrated many books and engraved a number of portraits.
Most of this work during this time is untraceable, as it was all published under Dick"s name.
lieutenant is widely assumed that the engraving of Leonardo"s Last Supper is Burt"s handiwork. However, it was as one of the principal engravers for the United States Treasury Department, that Burt is most remembered.
He engraved Lincoln"s portrait for the $100 bill In 1869. (This image remained on other large notes until 1928 when currency was reduced to the smaller size in use today: Lincoln"s portrait remained on the $5 bill until 2000).
After 1850, Burt"s focus was mainly on banknote engraving, which he was to do for over thirty years on behalf of the United States. Treasury.
He also engraved plates for postage stamps for Canada, Brazil, Italy, Russia and Chile, among others Charles Burt was married on June 3, 1844 in Rockaway, New Jersey, to Margaret, daughter of Thomas Sargeant (of Parsipanny, New Jersey). He lived most of his life in Brooklyn New York and died there on March 25, 1892.