US Congressman, Revolutionary War Officer. He was a United States Representative from the State of North Carolina. He was prominent in both political offices and in the militia. He was born as Dempsey Burgess, another source says Dempsey Burges, one of four children to the Reverend John Burgess (1720-1763), and his wife Margaret Redding Burgess (1715- ), in Shiloh, North Carolina, in 1751, but the exact date is currently unknown to historians. He first began his political career when he was elected and then served a term as a Member of the North Carolina Provincial Congress in 1775 and 1776. At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, he decided to put his political aspirations on hold and to serve his country. He was made an Officer in the North Carolina Militia and then rose up through the ranks during the rest of the duration of the American Revolutionary War. He was appointed to the rank of Major on September 9, 1775, under Colonel John Lowry (1768-1817), in the Pasquotank County Regiment of the North Carolina Militia and served until April 22, 1776, he was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on April 22, 1776, under Colonel Isaac Gregory (1737-1800), in the 2nd Pasquotank County Regiment of the North Carolina Militia and served until May 9, 1777, he was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Camden County Regiment of the North Carolina Militia on May 9, 1777, under Colonel Isaac Gregory (1737-1800), on or about May 15, 1779, and he was appointed to the rank of Colonel over the Camden County Regiment on or about May 15, 1779, when Colonel Isaac Gregory (1737-1800), was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General Edenton District Brigade of Militia. Another source states his actual commission date was July 30, 1779, but the actual date is unknown and he retired from active military service not too long afterwards. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected to succeed the outgoing United States Representative William Johnston Dawson (1765-1796), on March 4, 1795. A Member of the Democratic-Republican, he then served North Carolina's 8th District (Fourth Congress and Fifth Congress), in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1795, to March 3, 1799. In total, he was elected in 1795, and reelected in 1796. He was not a Candidate for reelection in 1798. Following his term in the United States Congress, he was succeeded in office by the incoming United States Representative David Stone (1770-1818), on March 4, 1799. He retired from politics shortly thereafter. He was also a slave owner. He passed away in Camden County, North Carolina, on January 13, 1800, at about the age of 48 or 49. Following his death, he was buried in Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery in Shiloh, North Carolina. He was married to Ellender Hardin Burgess (1772-1838). His wife Ellender survived him and she passed away in Livingston, Kentucky, on May 10, 1838, at the age of 66, and her final resting place is currently unknown. The couple had three children together including, a daughter named Dorothy S. Burgess (1796-1873, Last name later Parker), who passed away on January 10, 1873, at the age of 76, and is buried in the Ramage-Parker Cemetery in Salem, Kentucky, a son named James Hardin Burgess (1802-1864), who passed away in 1864, at the of about 62, and whose resting place is currently unknown, and another daughter named Mary "Polly Burgess (1799-1875, Last name later Alsobrook), who passed away on June 5, 1875, at the age of 76, and is buried in Woodyard Cemetery in Salem, Kentucky. He is also listed as being married to Tamer Forbes Burgess (1765-1810), the daughter of Caleb Forbes (1735-1792), and his wife Mary Smithson Forbes (1743-1793), of Camden County, North Carolina. It is unknown where Tamer Forbers Burgess is also buried, but it is thought she is buried with her husband in Shiloh Baptish Church Cemetery in Shiloh, North Carolina.