Career
Burnett was appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1838. Promoted to Captain in 1854, he commanded Tortoise, he served as Governor of Ascension from 1858 until 1861. He was then the Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station between 21 July 1862 until 7 February 1863.
He drowned when HMS Orpheus was wrecked and sank off the west coast of Auckland, New Zealand on 7 February 1863.
