Burlingame, Anson, lawyer and diplomat, was born at New Berlin, N. Y., Nov. 14, 1820, and was a direct descendant of a family which settled at Warwick, R. I., at a very early day. He was educated in the common schools and the University of Michigan, where he graduated in 1841. In 1846 he received his degree from the law department of Harvard University and formed a partnership with Henry S. Briggs for the practice of law in Boston. In 1854 he joined the newly formed American party and was elected to Congress on that ticket. He assisted at the birth of the Republican party and openly opposed slavery in the speeches he made in Congress, of which body he was a member in 1856. He was reëlected in 1858, but failed of reëlection in 1860. In Sept., 1859, he visited Kansas and received many honors from the prominent men of the territory during his visit. President Lincoln appointed Mr. Burlingame minister to Austria in 1861, and upon his return to the United States William H. Seward persuaded him to remain in the diplomatic service. He therefore, went to China on a mission for the United States, government. He was appointed special envoy to the United States by the Chinese government and led the official party that ratified a treaty on July 28, 1868, which is known by his name. Mr. Burlingame died at St. Petersburg, Russia, Feb. 23, 1870.