Tristam Burges

Tristam Burges (February 26, 1770 – October 13, 1853) was a U.S. representative from Rhode Island, and great-great-uncle of Rhode Island politician Theodore Francis Green.

Early life and law career Burges was born in Rochester in the Province of Massachusetts Bay on February 26, 1770, to John and Abigail Burges. Burges's father was a cooper and farmer, and a Revolutionary War veteran.

Burges was elected to the US Congress in 1825 as a Federalist and served for ten years. He was known for his witty repartee with the anti-New England Virginian John Randolph of Roanoke.

He died on his estate, Watchemoket Farm in 1853 in the town of Seekonk, Massachusetts (in the portion of which that would later be given from Massachusetts to Rhode Island and be incorporated as East Providence, Rhode Island, from a Supreme Court order settling a boundary dispute between the two states). He was interred in North Burial Ground, Providence, Rhode Island.