Burton Melvin Cross (November 15, 1902 – October 22, 1998) was an American Republican businessman and politician, the 61st and 63rd governor of Maine, though his two terms were separated by just 25 hours.

[2] In 1933, Cross won a seat on the Augusta Common Council[2] and in 1937 he was elected to the Board of Aldermen,[2] and he served as presiding officer of both bodies.

[2] In 1952, Cross won the Republican nomination for Governor and went on to defeat Democrat James Oliver in the general election by a substantial margin.

[7] Although personally exonerated in the liquor scandal, a politically wounded Cross was defeated in his reelection bid in 1954 by Democratic challenger, Edmund S. Muskie, by over 20,000 votes.

[2] Cross never sought public office again but returned to private life as an insurance and stock broker until his retirement in 1971.