George Burrington was born in Devonshire, England in about 1682. He was appointed governor of North Carolina in 1723, arriving in the colony in 1724. After a disagreement with the colony's chief justice Christopher Gale, Burrington was removed from office in 1725. Burrington became governor again in 1731 and this term, like his last, was marked by strong and bitter disagreements amongst Burrington and his political enemies in the legislature and council. Burrington was removed from office again in 1734 and returned to England. He died in London, England while trying to fight off a robber on February 22, 1759.