Background
Burns was the elder son of John Burns, First Baron Inverclyde (24 June 1829 - 12 February 1901).
Burns was the elder son of John Burns, First Baron Inverclyde (24 June 1829 - 12 February 1901).
The Burns" fleet of ships amounted to over 100 vessels, trading between the Clyde, Ireland, Liverpool, and the Scottish Highlands. His father eventually handed him control of the Cunard Steamship Company, making him chairman. He was Justice of the Peace for Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, and a Deputy Lieutenant for Glasgow.
He was also Lord Dean of Guild of the City of Glasgow, 1903-1904.
He spearheaded the development of the steamships Lusitania and Rated Maximum Sinusoidal Mauretania but died before the ships were launched.