While still young he became local correspondent of the Leicestershire Mercury, and then for a short time was in a solicitor's office in Northampton.
In 1843 he was engaged as reporter on the staff of the Leicester Journal, and retained the post for eighteen months.
He was working at landscape painting, when he agreed to accompany David Alfred Doudney to Ireland to found a printing school at Bonmahon.
Subsequently he married and became editor of the Clare Journal for six years, distinguishing himself as a champion of industrial progress.
[1] Among other works Burgess was the author of:[1] He also collected materials for a history of County Clare, with the title Land of the Dalcassians; the legendary part only was published.