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THE LIFE AND TIMES OF
WILLIAM A. BURT, BY GEORGE H. CANNON.
June 7, 1882.
Returning homeward, he embarked for Philadelphia in a sail ship, for the purpose of being longer on the ocean, and of making certain observations that such an opportunity might. give, he having at the time in view the construction of an
instrument which should be as useful on shipboard, as the solar compass was on the land. In after years this instrument was completed, and patents obtained in the United States, and throughout Europe. It was called the "Equatorial Sextant and being properly manipulated, was capable, with one observation, of reading off the position of a ship at sea. It is a most valuable invention.
In 1852 Mr. Burt was elected a member of the Legislature and served in that body in the winter of 1852-3. He was an active, hard working member, and as chairman of the committee on the St. Mary's Falls ship canal, to him is largely due the favorable legislation which resulted in the speedy completion of that important work. He also took active grounds in favor of temperance legislation. In 1855 Mr. Burt prepared and published a manual of surveying, which he designated a "Key to the solar compass. " It is very useful work and of great aid to the surveyor in the prosecution of his duties in the field. Mr. Burt was now in possession of a competency, and, having disposed of his real estate in Macomb county, he moved into Detroit, where a portion of his family resided, and where he might more fully enjoy that leisure which his retirement from active life would give. During his last year in Detroit he set about perfecting and bringing into use his equatorial sextant, and it was of importance that instruction should be given in its use.
Michigan
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