Burnet Bay and Burnet Drive are named after David Burnet (pronounced burn-it)

Burnet was ad interim president of Texas March 17 to October 22, 1836

He purchased land from Nathaniel Lynch and built a home named Oakland on the north side of Burnet Bay 1832-58.

Came to Texas intent on setting up 2 steam mills

Named Chief Justice for the Department of the Brazos in June 1834

Was chased off of Morgan’s Point by General Santa Anna just prior to the Battle of San Jacinto

Burnet was very conservative in his politics.

He owned 4 slaves; 2 adults and 2 children and farmed 2 acres

He served as Vice President of Texas in 1838 and ran against Houston for President of Texas in 1841

In 1858, after the death of his wife Hannah, he retired from farming and moved to Galveston

After the Civil War, Burnet was urged to accept a U.S. Senate seat, but would not swear that he had not helped the Confederacy.

Much of the information on this page comes from the excellent book 'The History of Baytown'  available at
Sterling Municipal Library and the Baytown Historical Museum located at 220 W. Defee.