He was the oldest and only surviving son of Sir Thomas Burke, 1st Baronet and his wife Christian Browne.

Limerick, by Elizabeth, daughter of John Fitzgerald, of Carrigoran, County Clare, who married Hon.

Burke entered the British House of Commons in 1830, sitting for County Galway the next two years.

[5] Burke died in his house at Ely Place, Dublin and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his oldest son Thomas.

[5] His third son James served as major-general in the British Army and his older daughter Elizabeth was married to the politician David O'Connor Henchy.