The son of a solicitor at Great Yarmouth, was educated at University College and Hospital, where he gained many honours and held the offices of House Surgeon, House Physician, Surgical Registrar, Demonstrator of Pathology, and Assistant in the Obstetrical and Ophthalmological Departments of the Hospital. Appointed House Surgeon to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in 1878, he was elected Assistant Surgeon in 1888, full Surgeon in 1898, and Consulting Surgeon in 1919; also, his administrative ability being recognized, he was made Chairman of the Board of Management in 1923. He was, too, Consulting Surgeon to the Jenny Lind Hospital for Children and Surgeon to the Eye Infirmary, where he was also Chairman of the Infirmary Committee. At the British Medical Association he was a Vice-President of the Surgical Section at the Ipswich Meeting in 1900, and was Chairman of the Norwich Division in 1909. He was a Justice of the Peace for Norwich. He died at his residence in Norwich on March 30th, 1929, leaving a widow, two sons, and two daughters. Burton was a man of exceptional ability, and was widely recognized for his skill in surgery, in ophthalmology, and in midwifery. He lived in the house formerly occupied by William Cadge (qv), to whose practice he largely succeeded. He was deservedly popular alike with colleagues and patients, and was a good fisherman, golfer, and musician.