John H. Sherburne
John H. Sherburne (January 29, 1877 – July 25, 1959) was an attorney, politician, and military officer from Boston. A graduate of Harvard College (1899) and Harvard Law School (1901), he practiced as the senior partner of a prominent Boston firm. A Republican, he served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1911 to 1917. A military veteran of more than 50 years, Sherburne served during the Pancho Villa Expedition, World War I, and World War II and attained the rank of brigadier general. He commanded several Field Artillery units during the First World War and was the Adjutant General of Massachusetts during the second. Sherburne was a recipient of numerous military awards, including the Silver Star, Purple Heart, French Legion of Honor (Commander), and French Order of the Black Star (Commander).
John H. Sherburne | |
|---|---|
From the 1926 edition of The National Cyclopedia of American Biography | |
| Born | January 29, 1877 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | July 25, 1959 (aged 82) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Buried | Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Service | United States Army Massachusetts National Guard Organized Reserve Corps |
| Years of service | 1896–1948 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Service number | 0156904 |
| Unit | U.S. Army Field Artillery Branch |
| Commands held | Battery A, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia 1st Battalion, 1st Massachusetts Field Artillery Regiment 1st Massachusetts Field Artillery Regiment 101st Field Artillery Regiment 167th Field Artillery Brigade 51st Field Artillery Brigade 1st Massachusetts Field Artillery Brigade 169th Field Artillery Brigade Adjutant General of Massachusetts |
| Wars | Pancho Villa Expedition World War I World War II |
| Awards | Silver Star Purple Heart Legion of Honor (Commander) (France) Order of the Black Star (Commander) (France) |
| Alma mater | Harvard College (A.B., 1899) Harvard Law School (LL.B., 1901) |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary Patterson Harris
(m. 1901–1945) |
| Children | 4 |
| Other work | Attorney |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 2nd Norfolk District | |
| In office 1912–1917 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Walker/Norman H. White |
| Succeeded by | George S. Baldwin |
A native of Boston, Sherburne graduated from Harvard College in 1899 and Harvard Law School in 1901. Sherburne practiced law in Boston throughout his career, and became the senior partner of a well-known law firm. Active in politics as a Republican, he served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1911 to 1917. In 1896, he joined a Massachusetts Militia battery as a private, and he served for 10 years before obtaining his commission. Sherburne went on to command batteries, battalions, and regiments as he advanced through the ranks, including service on the Texas-Mexico border during the Pancho Villa Expedition.
During World War I, Sherburne was promoted to brigadier general and commanded first the 167th Field Artillery Brigade, a unit of the 92nd Division, then the 51st Field Artillery Brigade, a unit of the 26th Division. After the war, Sherburne commanded the 169th Field Artillery Brigade, a unit of the Organized Reserve Corps' 94th Division. During World War II, Sherburne served as Adjutant General of Massachusetts. After the war, he was an inactive member of the Organized Reserve Corps until retiring in 1948.
In retirement, Sherburne resided in Brookline. He died in Boston on July 25, 1959. Sherburne was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.