Septimus Burt

The Hon Septimus Burt KC (1847–1919) was a Western Australian lawyer, politician and grazier, the son of Sir Archibald Burt.

He was born on 25 October 1847 at St Kitts in the West Indies, and educated at a private school at Melksham, Wiltshire, England. His family had been resident in the West Indies since 1635, primarily involved in administration of the Leeward Islands and in sugar plantations. Burt's great-great-great-uncle, William Mathew Burt, was Governor-General (1776–1781) of the Leeward Islands during the American War of Independence.

In January 1861 he arrived in Western Australia with his parents, and subsequently attended Hale School in Perth.

He served as an articled clerk to George Frederick Stone, and was admitted to the Bar in 1870. In 1876, Burt went into partnership with Edward Albert Stone (George Frederick’s son), in the firm "Stone and Burt".

He was offered a knighthood in 1901, Knight Commander of St Michael and St George (KCMG), but declined it. He also declined several invitations to join the bench of the Supreme Court, including the position of Chief Justice at the request of Premier George Leake in 1901.

He died on 15 May 1919, and is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.

In 1874 Burt accepted a nominated membership of the Western Australian Legislative Council. In 1879 he relinquished that nominee membership, and in the general election of 1880 was elected unopposed for the district of Murray and Williams.

In March 1886 Burt resigned from his seat on the Legislative Council to accept the position of Acting Attorney-General after the sudden resignation of the incumbent Alfred Hensman. Burt remained as Attorney-General until December 1886.

...
Wikipedia