Burton was the son of William Burton of Herringswell, Suffolk and his wife Grace Phillipson. He was educated at Eton College in 1732 and was admitted at Middle Temple in 1741 and at Emmanuel College, Cambridge aged 18 on 28 January 1742. He joined the army in the 1st The Royal Dragoons, being a cornet in 1744, lieutenant in 1746, captain in 1751, major in 1759 and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1761.
