Harry Burgess

Harry Burgess (February 22, 1872 – March 18, 1933) was an American military officer who served as governor of the Panama Canal Zone from 1928 to 1932. He attended the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi for three years before entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in June 1891.

Burgess graduated second in his class from the U.S. Military Academy in June 1895, and was commissioned in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. During the Spanish–American War, he was assigned to the defense of the harbor at Galveston, Texas. Burgess then taught practical military engineering at West Point from December 1898 to June 1900. From 1900 to 1901, he served in the Philippines during the Philippine Insurrection, commanding Company E, Battalion of Engineers from October 1900 to May 1901. Burgess was promoted to captain in January 1904, major in September 1909 and lieutenant colonel in November 1916.

During World War I, Burgess was temporarily promoted to colonel from July 1917 to October 1919. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery three days later.