David Gouverneur Burnet was born in Newark, New Jersey, on April 14, 1788, and died in Galveston, Texas, on December 5, 1870. He served as a delegate to the Second Convention of Texas in 1833, judge of the Department of the Brazos in 1834, and delegate to the Consultation in 1835. He was President ad interim of the Republic of Texas from March 16 to October 22, 1836, vice president from November 10, 1838, to December 13, 1841, participated in the battle with the Cherokees on May 29, 1839, and served as Secretary of State in 1846.