Anson Burlingame was a prominent American lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He was born in New Berlin, New York, in 1820. After studying at Middlebury College in Vermont, he went on to study law at the Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1843 and began practicing law in Massachusetts.

Burlingame began his political career in the 1850s, serving as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and later as a member of the United States House of Representatives. He was a strong advocate for abolition and was a close ally of Abraham Lincoln.

In 1861, President Lincoln appointed Burlingame as the United States Ambassador to China. In this role, he played a crucial role in improving relations between the United States and China and helped negotiate the Treaty of Tientsin, which opened China to American trade.

After serving as Ambassador to China, Burlingame returned to the United States and continued to be active in politics. He was a delegate to the 1864 Republican National Convention and was a strong supporter of President Lincoln's re-election.

Burlingame passed away in 1870. He was remembered for his tireless efforts to improve relations between the United States and China and for his commitment to the abolition of slavery. He has been recognized as one of the most important American diplomats of the 19th century.