Born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Came to America in 1842 and lived in New York City. Married Margaret Sargeant June 3, 1844. They had a son and seven daughters. Employed with A.L. Dick. Later with Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson which became the American Bank Note Co.

Burt engraved a portrait of Victoria used on postage stamps. He provided many of the engravings used by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing between 1860 and 1890. Among these were "Landing of the Pilgrims"; "The Baptism of Pocahontas"; and portraits of Thomas Hart Benton, Robert Fulton, Jefferson, Lincoln (after a Brady photograph), Joseph King Mansfield, George Gordon Meade, Charles Sumner, Martha Washington and Silas Wright.

He died in Brooklyn, New York.

bio: Hessler; NCAB 12; NYHSD; WWWA-H; BNR Jan 87