George T. Burrill
Encyclopedia
George Thompson Burrill was the first sheriff
of Los Angeles County, California
. He was elected to a one-year term in April 1850, shortly after California became a state. He was re-elected in 1851, after which he was elected and served as a justice of the peace. He died in Los Angeles on February 2, 1856, at the age of 46.
Burrill, who liked to be called Thompson, "was particular in his dress, careful in his demeanor, clean shaven and wore a handlebar mustache." It is said he patrolled the city "armed with a navy Colt and an infantry dress sword."
Burrill was one of the signers of a letter to Peter Burnett, California's first governor under the new state constitution, asking what the duties of the newly elected county officials should be:
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
. He was elected to a one-year term in April 1850, shortly after California became a state. He was re-elected in 1851, after which he was elected and served as a justice of the peace. He died in Los Angeles on February 2, 1856, at the age of 46.
Burrill, who liked to be called Thompson, "was particular in his dress, careful in his demeanor, clean shaven and wore a handlebar mustache." It is said he patrolled the city "armed with a navy Colt and an infantry dress sword."
Burrill was one of the signers of a letter to Peter Burnett, California's first governor under the new state constitution, asking what the duties of the newly elected county officials should be:
The undersigned would respectfully state that ... in the absence of any laws, it has been found impractical to organize the courts, or otherwise enter upon the discharge of their duties. ... We would respectfully ask Your Excellency for some suitable instructions ....
See also
- List of Los Angeles County sheriffs