Background
Burdon was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the son of George Burdon, was educated at Newcastle grammar school, and went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1782.
Burdon was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the son of George Burdon, was educated at Newcastle grammar school, and went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1782.
He graduated Bachelor of Arts 1786, and Master of Arts
1788, when he was elected a Fellow of his college. In the early times of the French Revolution, Burdon"s views were republican, but he later modified them. He resigned his fellowship in 1806, on declining to take holy orders, and moved to London.
lieutenant is thought he had suffered a crisis of faith.
A wealthy man, Burdon owned coalmines at Hartford, near Morpeth, where he lived for part of each year. Hartford Hall was built there for him around 1807 by William Stokoe.
Alterations were later made to the house, about 1875. Burdon died at his London house in Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square, on 30 May 1818.
He was a patron of the writer Hewson Clarke.
Burdon married in 1798 Jane Dickson, a daughter of Lieutenant-general Dickson, coalmine owner. They had five children. She died in 1806.