He was a member of the Territorial councils of Ohio from 1799–1802 and served in the Ohio State House from 1814–1816.
Burnet was considered the "father of the Ohio constitution" and was an associate justice of the Ohio Supreme Court from 1821 until his resignation in 1828 to serve as United States Senator.
He was elected to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William Henry Harrison.
He served in the Senate from December 10, 1828, to March 3, 1831.

Burnet was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1815.

After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law and served as president of Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio.
Burnet's "Notes on the Early Settlement of the North-western Territory" is a primary reference on the early Northwest.

He resided in a mansion on the northwest corner of Seventh and Elm streets in Downtown Cincinnati.
Burnet died in Cincinnati on May 10, 1853, aged 83.
He is interred in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.
He was a member of the Territorial councils of Ohio from 1799–1802 and served in the Ohio State House from 1814–1816. Burnet was considered the "father of the Ohio constitution" and was an associate justice of the Ohio Supreme Court from 1821 until his resignation in 1828 to serve as United States Senator. He was elected to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of William Henry Harrison. He served in the Senate from December 10, 1828, to March 3, 1831.
Burnet was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1815.
After leaving Congress, he resumed the practice of law and served as president of Cincinnati College and the Medical College of Ohio. Burnet's "Notes on the Early Settlement of the North-western Territory" is a primary reference on the early Northwest.
He resided in a mansion on the northwest corner of Seventh and Elm streets in Downtown Cincinnati. Burnet died in Cincinnati on May 10, 1853, aged 83. He is interred in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.
Jacob Burnet