BURCHILL, JOHN PERCIVAL (1855-1923)

BURCHILL, JOHN PERCIVAL, lumber company head and MLA; b. Beaubear's Island, 6 Feb 1855, s/o George Burchill and Bridget Percival; m. Eliza Bacon Wilkinson, d/o William Wilkinson and Eliza Lovibond Bacon; d. Newcastle, 18 Dec 1923.

John P. Burchill studied under W. Sterling Neales at the County Grammar School until the age of fourteen. He then entered business with his father, and in 1881, at age twenty-six, became a junior partner in George Burchill & Sons. He was made the senior partner in 1904, and when his father died in 1907 he inherited the business, which involved woods operations and lumber manufacturing and shipping, as well as a general store at Nelson. He was a director of the South West Boom Co., president of the North West Boom Co., and president of the Lumbermen and Limit Holders' Association of New Brunswick when that body first met in Saint John in 1913.

Burchill was a founding director in 1884, and later president, of the Miramichi Steam Navigation Co., which operated passenger and freight ferries on the river. He was also president of its successor firm, Miramichi River Service Ltd, which was incorporated in 1920. He was a member of the Miramichi Pilotage Commission. He was among the founders of the Miramichi Exhibition Association in 1902 and president from 1915 to 1917.

Burchill served on the County Council for six years and was warden for a year. In 1882 he ran successfully on the Liberal ticket for a seat in the House of Assembly, and he sat during the following dates over the next thirty-eight years: 1882-86, 1887-1903, 1908-12, and 1917-20. He was speaker of the assembly for two terms: 1893-95 and 1896-99.

Burchill was a vestryman of the Anglican church and a Mason. In 1890, and again during 1895-96, he was worshipful master of Northumberland Lodge. He and his wife, Eliza B. Wilkinson, had two daughters and one son: George Percival Burchill.