Albert Burleson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 45th United States Postmaster General | |
| In office March 5, 1913 – March 4, 1921 | |
| President | Woodrow Wilson |
| Preceded by | Frank H. Hitchcock |
| Succeeded by | Will H. Hays |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas | |
| In office March 4, 1899 – March 6, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph D. Sayers |
| Succeeded by | James P. Buchanan |
| Constituency | 9th district (1899–1903) 10th district (1903–1913) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Albert Sidney Burleson June 7, 1863 San Marcos, Texas, C.S. |
| Died | November 24, 1937 (aged 74) San Marcos, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Texas A&M University Baylor University (BA) University of Texas at Austin (LLB) |
Albert Sidney Burleson (June 7, 1863 – November 24, 1937) was a progressive Democrat who served as United States Postmaster General and Representative in Congress. He was a strong supporter of William Jennings Bryan and Woodrow Wilson and so Wilson appointed him to the cabinet role heading the US Post Office. He expanded parcel post, rural free delivery, and air mail service. After America entered World War I in 1917, he stopped the mail delivery of anti-war publications and clamped down on free speech, actions that have been heavily criticized ever since.