Sept. 1, 1807: Former Vice President Aaron Burr is acquitted of treason

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Vice President Burr was acquitted of treason in a Virginia court Sept. 1, 1807, after being arrested for attempting to form his own republic. After serving as vice president under Thomas Jefferson from 1800 to 1804, Burr devised a plan to annex sections of Louisiana and Mexico in order to establish an independent republic over which he would rule. Enlisting the help of James Wilkinson, the commander in chief of the U.S. Army, Burr petitioned the British government for assistance but was unsuccessful. 

Continuing with his plan, he led an armed group of colonists toward New Orleans in the fall of 1806. However, the attempted siege ended when Wilkinson, concerned over the possibility of punishment, alerted the government to Burr's act of treason. Burr was arrested in Louisiana and sent to face trial in Virginia. He was acquitted on the grounds that he had not engaged in an "overt act" against the U.S.