Burchett Douglass was born on Oct. 6, 1793, in Sumner Co. Tenn. He married Martha McGee in 1819, and they had seven children. A private in the War of 1812, he enlisted on Jan 28, 1814, in Capt. Allen Wilkinson's Company and was discharged on April 2, 1814. He established the Bank of Fayette Co. and served as its president until his death. He was elected to the Tenn. House and Senate, served as Speaker of the Tenn. House during the 22nd and 1st session of the 24th General Assembly, and was a presidential elector in 1840 on the Whig ticket.