Daniel H. Burnham

Image of Daniel H. Burnham
Daniel Hudson Burnham

Born September 4, 1846, Henderson, New York
Died June 1, 1912, Heidelberg, Germany
"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood,"
Daniel H. Burnham

Burnham was nine years old when he moved to Chicago with his family in 1855. Daniel began his Chicago Schooling at Snow's Swedenborgian Academy and in his early adolescence, attended the Jones and Dearborn public schools.

In 1867 Burnham became a salesman at a mercantile house in Chicago. He then worked in an architectural firm, Loring and Jenney as a draftsman apprentice. Burnham decided to leave and go to Nevada and ran for state senator at age twenty-two. When he was not elected he returned to Chicago to resume his architectural career. Peter Wight, Burnham's mentor helped him to develop his drawing skills.

While working on a house for John B. Sherman and family, their daughter, Margaret fell in love with Daniel. Fortunately the attraction was mutual and he proposed to her after the building was completed. The wedding took place on January 20, 1876.

Spring of 1912, Burnham and his wife, Margaret, sailed for Europe. He died in Heidelberg, Germany because of complications from colitis, diabetes, and food poisoning.