Burman was born at
Utrecht on 6 July 1668, the son of Franz Burmann (''''; 1628–1679) and Maria, daughter of
Abraham Heidanus. His father was the son of a
Protestant minister who had been
driven from France; he officiated as professor of theology at Utrecht, and became known by his writings, especially by his commentaries on the
Old Testament. At the age of thirteen Pieter entered the university where he studied under
Graevius and
Gronovius. He devoted himself particularly to the study of the classical languages, and became unusually proficient in Latin composition. As he was intended for the legal profession, he spent some years in attendance on the law classes. For about a year he studied at
Leiden, paying special attention to
philosophy and
Greek. On Burman's return to Utrecht he took the degree of doctor of
laws (March 1688), and after travelling through
Switzerland and part of
Germany, settled down to the practice of law, without, however, abandoning his classical studies. In December 1691 he was appointed receiver of the tithes which were originally paid to the bishop of Utrecht, and five years later was nominated to the professorship of eloquence and history. To this chair was soon added that of Greek and politics. In 1714 he paid a short visit to
Paris and ransacked the libraries. In the following year he was appointed successor to the celebrated
Perizonius, who had held the chair of history, Greek language and eloquence at Leiden. Burman was subsequently appointed professor of history for the United Provinces and in 1724 he became the
9th Librarian of Leiden University. His numerous editorial and critical works spread his fame as a scholar throughout Europe, and engaged him in many of the stormy disputes which were then so common among men of letters. ==Works==