Leonard Samuel Burton

Leonard Samuel Burton (6 January 1824 – 23 February 1895), Generally known as L. S. Burton, was an educator in Gawler, South Australia.

History Burton was born in Chester, England, the eldest son of William Burton from Dent, Yorkshire. He was educated at the King's School, Chester and worked as a pharmacist. He married Eliza Hope and emigrated to South Australia aboard Rajah, arriving in April 1850.

With the Education Act of 1875, small private schools such as St George's were put under competition from State schools, and Burton accepted headmastership of the new Gawler Model School, and St George's folded. Two and a half years later Burton resigned from the Department and re-opened St George's School. Then around December 1893 he moved the school to his private residence.

Mrs Burton died on 21 February 1893 after being an invalid for 17 years.

Other interests Burton was deeply involved with various activities in Gawler: He was a member of the Humbug Society, with E. L. Grundy, George Isaacs, J. P. Stow, and Dr. George Nott vice-president of the football and cricket clubs treasurer of the Gawler Institute hon. secretary to the Gawler Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society co-auditor (with Mr Warren) of the Gawler Town and Suburban Building and Investment Society. appointed Justice of the Peace trustee of St George's Church treasurer of the Gawler Agricultural Society a co-auditor of the Gawler Corporation from 1881 a councillor for the North Ward, Gawler Council for much of the remainder of his life, and mayor in 1884–1885 and 1887–1888 While mayor he was also President of the Gawler Cricket Club and vice-president of the Football Club. President of the Gawler Bicycle Club President of the Gawler Chess Club patron of the Gawler Comedy Company treasurer of the Gawler Political Science Association

Death Burton and George Warren were riding in a trap when they failed to stop for a railway train at the twenty-nine-mile crossing, near Roseworthy. The horse was killed outright and the two occupants were thrown to the ground, Burton being killed immediately and Warren sustaining serious injuries. The driver of the trap had ignored the signals of the crossing-keeper (a Mrs Cullen) and attempted to outrun the train, or had been unable to bring the horse to a halt.

Notable students Henry Edward Bright, jr Ephraim Henry Coombe, newspaper editor and parliamentarian Robert Henry Barnet, newspaper proprietor