Burton Melvin Cross (15 November 1902-22 October 1998) was the Republican Governor of Maine from 24 December 1952 to 6 January 1953 (succeeding Frederick G. Payne and preceding Nathaniel M. Haskell) and from 7 January 1953 to 5 January 1955 (succeeding Haskell and preceding Edmund Muskie).
Biography[]
Burton Melvin Cross was born in Augusta, Maine in 1902, and he worked as a florist before being elected to the Common Council in 1933 and to the Board of Aldermen in 1937, in the State House from 1941 to 1945, in the State Senate from 1945 to 1952, and as Governor from 1952 to 1953 (following Governor Frederick G. Payne's resignation) and from 1953 to 1955 (serving a full term). His image was tainted by corruption in the state liquor commission, and he was defeated for re-election and worked in insurance and stock brokerage until his death in 1998.