His brother, Colonel Silas W. Burt, was president of the Brokers' Loan and Investment Company and naval officer of the Port of New York under Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and Grover Cleveland.
Their father was Thomas M. Burt, a proprietor of the Albany Argus newspaper.. Burt attended Kinderhook, New York Academy and graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York in 1854.
Following his government appointments he was involved in the sugar business and was considered an expert regarding the commodity.
At the time of his death he represented the Havemeyers in the sugar trust at their office at 56 Wall Street.
His death of heart disease occurred suddenly at his home at 253 West 45th Street in 1892.