Daniel Burritt, Jr. was born in Arlington, Vermont, USA on 22 March 1772. He was one of 12 children, and the second youngest son, of Daniel Burritt, Sr. (1735-1827) and Sarah Collins (1733-1815) of Connecticut, later Vermont, and finally Augusta Township, Grenville County, Ontario, Canada.  His father and elder brothers were United Empire Loyalist veterans of the American Revolution.  Following the war, Daniel Jr. settled in Upper Canada with his parents and most of his siblings.

Although Daniel was the Captain of the 2nd Regiment Grenville Militia during the War of 1812 commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Burritt (one of his elder brothers), post-war he was Lieutenant Colonel and commanding officer of the 2nd Regiment Grenville Militia.