Benjamin Burt (silversmith)

Benjamin Burt (December 29, 1729 - October 9, 1805) was an American silversmith active in Boston, and uncle to Major Samuel Shaw, who sailed on the Empress of China (1783) as the first American consul to China.

By 1754, Burt's older brother Samuel had died, Benjamin had married Joan Hooten, and he took over the family business.

He was both prolific and highly successful as a silversmith, second only to Paul Revere in the quantity of silver that he produced, and was selected to lead Boston's goldsmiths in 1800 in the memorial procession after George Washington's death.

of silver" and he bequeathed to Samuel Waters "all my Goldsmith's working tools now in my shop," having himself bought Zachariah Brigden's tools and silver from his widow in 1787.

His sons William (born 1723 but died young), Samuel (1724–54), and Benjamin (1729–1804) succeeded him in the family business.

Pair of beakers, Benjamin Burt, Boston, 1797