Career
The son of Thomas Burnett and Hannah Dickenson, he came to Canada in 1846, was educated in Greenwood, Ontario and Whitby and settled in Greenbank. Burnett taught school for three years. Prior to his federal political experience, he was councillor for Ontario County (1871-1873) then Deputy Reeve for Reach Township, Ontario (1891) then reeve (1892-1893).
Burnett died in Toronto at the age of 87.
