Background
He was born on January 10, 1871, in Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York, the son of Perrine Burnett and Harriet E. (Rowley) Burnett.
He was born on January 10, 1871, in Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York, the son of Perrine Burnett and Harriet E. (Rowley) Burnett.
He graduated from Canandaigua Academy in 1889, and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Michigan Law School in 1892.
Then he was admitted to the bar, and practiced law in Canandaigua. He became the chief lieutenant of the local Republican boss John Raines who took Burnett along to Albany. In 1897, Burnett was Chief of the Revision Room of the State Assembly.
Burnett died during the legislative session on February 26, 1907, at the Ten Eyck Hotel in Albany, New York, from pneumonia.
And was buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Canandaigua.
He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Ontario Company) in 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906 and 1907. And was Chairman of the Committee on General Laws from 1900 to 1902, and Chairman of the Committee on Affairs of Cities from 1903 to 1907.