The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America and to make conditions in the colony more agreeable for its current inhabitants. Its first meeting was held in Jamestown, Virginia, on July 30, 1619.
The word "Burgess" means an elected or appointed official of a municipality, or the representative of a borough in the English House of Commons.
Read more about House Of Burgesses: Origin; Early Years, Moving Toward Independence, Meeting Places, Legacy
Famous quotes containing the words house of and/or house:
“In relation to God, we are like a thief who has burgled the house of a kindly householder and been allowed to keep some of the gold. From the point of view of the lawful owner this gold is a gift; From the point of view of the burglar it is a theft. He must go and give it back. It is the same with our existence. We have stolen a little of God’s being to make it ours. God has made us a gift of it. But we have stolen it. We must return it.”
—Simone Weil (1909–1943)
“The House of Lords is the British Outer Mongolia for retired politicians.”
—Tony Benn (b. 1925)