Career
Burwell was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Ratifying Convention. He also served as the county lieutenant for the James City County militia. Burwell began working with the James City County Court in 1772 and served on the county"s Committee two years later.
He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates for two concurrent years, 1778 and 1779.
Burwell would later be re-elected for a third term during 1782. Six years later in 1788 he was elected to take part in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, where he did not actively debate the Constitution but did vote for its ratification.