Abstract:
Captain Burns was a notorious figure during the War of 1812 because of his raids on British shipping. Republicans supported the conflict and viewed Burns as a national hero, while Federalists defied the war and felt Burs was nothing more than a marauding pirate. Following war, Captain Otway Burns returned to his native North Carolina to become an active member of both State House and Senate from 1821-1834 representing Carteret County.