William Conyngham Vandeleur Burton was the second son of Henry Stuart Burton and his wife, Alicia Mary Simpson. His grandfather was Sir Francis Nathaniel Pierpont Burton Conyngham, Member of Parliament for County Clare and twin brother of Henry, 3rd Baron and 1st Marquess Conyngham. William served in the official posts of Deputy Lieutenant, Justice of the Peace, and High Sheriff (1868). On 16 January 1896 he married Lilias Green [d. 1935]; they had no children.