BURKE, Thomas, American statesman: b. Ireland, about 1747; d. Hillsborough, N. C., 2 Dec. 1783. He left Ireland about 1764 and lived for some years in Accomac County, Va., en gaged in the study and practice of medicine. He next studied law, began practice in Nor folk and in 1774 removed to Hillsborough, N. C. Of a bold and impetuous temper, a ready writer and speaker, he became one of the leading spirits in the Revolutionary strug gle. While he was in Virginia, his writings in opposition to the Stamp Act had brought him into notice, and he had a large share in the formation of the constitution of North Caro lina. He was a member of the provincial con gress at Halifax in 1776 and a volunteer at the battle of Brandywine. He was a member of Congress from December 1776 to 1781, when he was chosen first governor of North Caro lina under the new constitution. In September
of that year he was surprised and seized by the Tories and retained at James Island, S. C., as a prisoner on parole. Obnoxious to the Tories from his previous course, he was in daily apprehension of assassination, to escape which, after endeavoring unsuccessfully to ob tain an exchange or a parole to some other State, he effected his escape in the night of 16 Jan. 1782, after an imprisonment of four months. In a letter to General Leslie, Burke gave his reasons for withdrawing and said that he still considered himself subject to the dis posal of the British authorities. He was reg ularly exchanged soon afterward and resumed his duties as governor, but was defeated the following year, when a candidate for re-elec tion, it being urged that he had violated his parole.