G. W. Burr attended the
United States Military Academy and graduated in 1888. He became an officer in the 1st artillery and later taught Military Science and Tactics at the
Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi until 1893. He worked for the
Ordnance Department and was promoted to the rank of
captain in April 1899. He was involved in ammunition development at the
Rock Island Arsenal, where he became commanding officer after his promotion to
lieutenant colonel in 1910. With the involvement in World War I, the Arsenal grew from 2500 to 13000 employees. In 1918, as part of the
American Expeditionary Forces, Burr was sent to England to buy war material and to study production techniques in the United Kingdom. In March 1919 Burr was promoted to the rank of
major general and became successor of
George Washington Goethals as Assistant Chief of Staff, Director of Purchase, Storage and Traffic. He was relieved in 1920 on his own request and the War Department sent him to England to negotiate the settlement of outstanding claims between the two governments, G. W. Burr received the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his service in
World War I. ==Death and legacy ==