[2] He attended the public schools and studied law with Henry Adams Bellows, future Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

[7] He was appointed Commissioner of Patents by President Polk and served from May 5, 1846, to September 3, 1850.

[8][9] While serving in that office, he wrote a series of articles about the tariff under the signature Bundelcund.

[10] After leaving the patent office, he resumed the practice of law in Newport, New Hampshire.

[12] Burke died in Newport, Sullivan County, New Hampshire on January 25, 1882 (age 73 years, 2 days).