Why do we have a William Austin Burt Website?
If you are interested in the original U.S. public land surveys and the unique contributions of the pioneer surveyors who laid out straight lines on the earth’s curved surface to prepare this country’s land for settlement, this is a good place to start.
William A. Burt was one of the best of them. With his blend of mechanical genius, a quest for accuracy, and a Yankee determination to make a difference, he invents a solar compass that solves a problem that had plagued public land surveyors since 1785. It becomes a required instrument for public land surveys and saves the government millions of dollars on future surveys. Along the way, William Austin Burt invents America’s first typewriter and, while surveying Michigan’s rugged Upper Peninsula, his survey party discovers a major source of wealth for Michigan and the country.
In many ways Burt typifies the American pioneer, as the rugged surveyor who explored and accurately charted the wilderness. With inventive mind and creative spirit he persevered, usually for the benefit of others. His lack of personal greed enabled William Austin Burt to leave a lasting legacy of public service.
The book They Left Their Mark is the only full biography about William A. Burt and his sons. Currently, there are only a few hard cover copies left. My hope is to ensure that all important and pertinent research facilities, especially in Michigan, have a copy of this book. For this reason this website includes book reviews, articles I have written about Burt, and an Addendum of new information I obtained after the book was published. Included are links to two excellent videos: 1) Surveying Michigan, produced by Lansing Community College, and 2) The Solar Compass of William Austin Burt – Its Principles and Practice, by surveyor-historian Burton H. Boyum. If you represent a research facility that does not currently have They Left Their Mark please contact me about receiving a hard cover copy.
You are encouraged to download a free copy of the book They Left Their Mark in PDF format, and to share this website with your family and friends. The downloaded edition includes a corrected Index, as well as a few other changes. Your comments are welcomed. I hope you enjoy reading the story as much as I did researching and writing it over a period of ten years.
John S. Burt, Author
They Left Their Mark
June 8, 2017
William A. Burt – They Left Their Mark – William Austin Burt & His Sons, Surveyors of the Public Domain (1987) – by John S. Burt; the first full biography about the distinguished U.S. surveyor – inventor and his sons. 75 illustrations, references.
The PDF copy of They Left Their Mark includes the corrected Index.
About The Author
John S. Burt, direct descendant of William A. Burt, devoted more than a decade to researching and writing They Left Their Mark.
Although he has authored several articles pertaining to the accomplishments of his distinguished ancestor, They Left Their Mark is John Burt’s first book and the first full biography of William A. Burt and his sons. He is honored that a noted history professor who reviewed the book wrote that the author has made a “valuable contribution to the literature of Michigan history,” and “has produced a work that would win the approval of William A. Burt and his sons.”
