Francis Henry Burton (August 17, 1816 – July 28, 1872)[1] was an Ontario businessman and political figure. He represented Durham East in the 1st Canadian Parliament as a Conservative member.[2]
He was born in Galway, Ireland in 1817,[2] the son of the Rev. James Edmund Burton and his first wife. His father brought the family to Canada when he was a child[3] and he was educated at Chambly, Quebec.[4] He operated a mill and distillery in Port Hope. He married Ann Brown, becoming brother-in-law to his step-brother, Henry Howard Meredith. Burton ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1851[3] and then represented the East riding of Durham from 1854 to 1861.[4] He was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1861 and 1863. He died in office at Port Hope in 1872.[3]