William Robertson Burnett was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1911, the son of James Robertson and Hope (Trotter) Burnett. His father, who was born and trained as a journalist in Scotland, was editor and manager of the Guardian newspaper in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island from 1914-1951 following 9 years with the Argosy newspaper in Georgetown, British Guiana. "Bill" worked as a reporter for the Guardian prior to the outbreak of World War II. Enlisting in the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, he participated in the invasion of Normandy and the allied push into Belgium and Germany. After the war he and his brothers George (Chick), Ian, and James (Lyn) - a fourth brother Niall had been killed during the war - became part of a family enterprise, all working in various capacities for the Guardian under their father until 1953 when the Guardian became a Thomson newspaper. Bill continued to work for the Guardian in circulation, advertising and editorial. He retired in December 1976.

In addition to his newspaper career, Burnett was active in his community and his church. He acted as media representative for Royal Visits, served on the provincial council of the Boy Scouts of Canada, and as public relations officer for the Salvation Army. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Memory Club and served as an elder of the Kirk of St. James Presbyterian Church. He died on 17 March 2002 at the age of 90, predeceased by all of his siblings.

Bill Burnett was married to Edith Mary Evans of Round Hill, Nova Scotia with whom he had one son, Robertson (Rob) and three daughters, Joyce, Flora and Elspeth. Mary is an accomplished weaver and worked for many years as cataloguer at the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation.