Background
Born in Canaan, New Hampshire, Burleigh was the son of Gordon Burleigh.
United States representative politician
Born in Canaan, New Hampshire, Burleigh was the son of Gordon Burleigh.
He was raised in Concord, New Hampshire and attended the common schools.
He engaged in the mining of iron ore and in the lumber, coal, and transportation business. He was supervisor of the town of Ticonderoga in 1864 and 1865 before moving to Whitehall, New York in 1867 to expand his transportation business. He owned many canalboats and steamers which he used to move freight through Canada and the United States.
He was involved in the banking industry, serving as the president of the National Bank at Whitehall and the First National Bank of Ticonderoga.
He was director of the International Paper Company, Ticonderoga Pulp and Paper Company, and the Saint Maurice Lumber Company.
He was also involved in real estate and owned large amounts of real estate in the United States. and Canada. In 1855, he was secretary of the first Republican convention in New New York
Burleigh was a delegate to the 1880, 1884, 1888, 1892 and 1896 Republican National Conventions. He was elected as a Republican candidate to the 48th and 49th Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1883, to March 3, 1887.
While in Congress, he served on the United States House Committee on Rivers and Harbors.
He died of appendicitis in Whitehall, New York on August 10, 1900, and was interred at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Ticonderoga, New New York
He served as a United States Representative from New York and as a member of the New York State Assembly during the 1800s. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Washington Company, 2nd Doctorate) in 1876.