Daly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Irish immigrants.^[1] He graduated from La Salle College High School in Philadelphia in 1890 and from the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1896. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1896, and opened a private practice in Philadelphia. He served as assistant city solicitor from 1914 to 1922. He was a member of the faculty of La Salle College from 1923 to 1930.

Daly was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-fourth, Seventy-fifth, and Seventy-sixth Congresses and served until his death in Philadelphia at the age of 67.

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

• United States Congress. "J. Burrwood Daly (id: D000014)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

• John Burrwood Daly entry at The Political Graveyard
• J. Burrwood Daly at Find a Grave