Wellington R. Burt

Wellington R. Burt
Old white-haired man with white bushy moustache in black suit with high collar sits stern face in a leather chair, legs crossed, staring at a distant point.
Mayor of East Saginaw
In office
1867–1868
Preceded byDwight G. Holland
Succeeded byJames L. Ketcham
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 22nd district
In office
1893–1894
Preceded byEnoch T. Mugford
Succeeded byEmory Townsend
Personal details
BornAugust 26, 1831
Pike, New York
DiedMarch 2, 1919(1919-03-02) (aged 87)
Saginaw, Michigan
Resting placeForest Lawn Cemetery
Saginaw, Michigan
Political partyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations		Fusion
Spouses
  • Sarah Torrance
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1860; died 1867)​
    [1]
  • Mary Amina Richardson
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1869; died 1904)​
    [1]
ChildrenHattie May, Jennie, Emma, Gertrude, Charles, George, Marvin[1]
Parent(s)Luther Burt, Florinda Horton[1]
Education
Professiontimber, iron, rail, finance, salt

Wellington R. Burt (August 26, 1831 – March 2, 1919) was an American lumber baron from Saginaw, Michigan.[2][3] At the time of his death, his wealth was estimated to be between $40 and $90 million (equivalent to between $703 million and $1.58 billion in 2023).[4][5] For a time in the early 1900s, Burt ranked as one of the eight wealthiest men in the United States.[6] He was best known for his lumber mills and timber holdings, but was also involved in iron mining, railroads, salt mines, and finances. Burt was a politician, holding the offices of Mayor of East Saginaw (1867–68) and member of the Michigan Senate (1893–94). In his final years, he lived alone in a mansion with his servants. Estranged from friends and family and nicknamed "The Lone Pine of Michigan", he officially died of "senility" at age 87.[7][8]

Burt had an unusual will, "as bizarre but as finely-wrought as any in U.S. court annals".[5] It contained a "spite clause" conceived by Burt to avenge a family feud.[5] It specified to wait 21 years after his children and grandchildren were dead before the bulk of the fortune could go to any descendants, in effect alienating his children and grandchildren from the estate, beyond some small annuities. The conditions of the will were met in 2010 after the 1989 death of his last grandchild. In May 2011, twelve of Burt's descendants finally received the estate, worth about $100 million.[6]

Burt's legacy today is mixed, seen as a vindictive old man, a generous benefactor of the city of Saginaw and a famously wealthy American entrepreneur.

  1. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Burnham was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Kim, Susanna (May 10, 2011). "$100 Million Finally to Be Split Between Descendants, 92 Years After Rich Relative's Death". ABC News. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  3. ^ Engel, Justin L. (May 8, 2011). "Wellington's millions: 92 years after his death, Saginaw lumber baron's vindictive testament nears endgame". The Saginaw News. Saginaw, Michigan. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Orwig was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Miller, Ed; Beach, Jean R. "Wellington R. Burt". Biographical Sketches. Saginaw Hall of Fame and Castle Museum of Saginaw County. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Engel Part 4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference SeekingMichigan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Index to Politicians was invoked but never defined (see the help page).