Meredith F. Burrill was born on 23 December 1902 in Houlton, Maine, USA. He was married to Nellie Bannister and Betty Didcoct. He died on 5 October 1997 in Washington, USA.
Attended Bates College where he excelled at track and participated in the choir and glee club. He graduated in 1925, and then attended ClarK University, where he received an M.A. and Ph.D. in geography.