Born in Medina, New York, United States, he was the son of Congressman Silas M. Burroughs (1810–1860). His mother died when he was five and his father when he was 13. He grew up with his aunt and uncle, and started his professional career by working in shops and as a travelling pharmaceutical salesman.
He graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1877.
In 1878, he travelled to London, United Kingdom, as an agent for John Wyeth & Bro (now Wyeth Pharmaceuticals – see Wyeth) and founded Burroughs & Company, which imported American drugs into the United Kingdom. In order to expand beyond his company world-wide Burroughs undertook a promotional world tour from 1880 to 1884. His philanthropism culminated in the foundation of the Livingstone Hospital at Dartford. He took British citizenship in 1890.
Burroughs was known for pushing himself to the limit.
In 1895, he exhausted himself on a cycling trip along the Riviera, developed pneumonia, and died in Monte Carlo, aged 48.
